Once or twice her father asked for brandy, which Ellinor, reassured by the apparently good effect of the first dose, brought to him without a word; and once at her father's suggestion she brought food, such as she could find in the dining-room without disturbing the household, for Dixon.
When all was ready for the reception of the body in its unblessed grave, Mr.Wilkins bade Ellinor go up to her own room--she had done all she could to help them; the rest must be done by them alone.

She felt that it must; and indeed both her nerves and her bodily strength were giving way.

She would have kissed her father, as he sat wearily at the head of the grave--Dixon had gone in to make some arrangement for carrying the corpse--but he pushed her away quietly, but resolutely-- "No, Nelly, you must never kiss me again; I am a murderer." "But I will, my own darling papa," said she, throwing her arms passionately round his neck, and covering his face with kisses.

"I love you, and I don't care what you are, if you were twenty times a murderer, which you are not; I am sure it was only an accident." "Go in, my child, go in, and try to get some rest.

But go in, for we must finish as fast as we can.