“Be still,[692] or I shall kill thee, Nell!” he hiss’d.
And I was still for fear.
“They’re after[693] me—I’ve knifed a man!” he said,
“Be still![694]—the drink—drink did it!—he is dead!”[695]
Then we grew still, dead still. I couldn’t weep;
All I could do was cling[696] to Ned and hark,[697]
And Ned was cold,[698] cold, cold, as if asleep,
But breathing hard and deep.
The candle[699] flicker’d out—the room grew dark[700]
And—Nan!—although my heart[701] was true and tried—