Rachel Dyer

by John Neal

No no.—

Dare not look thy sister in the face?

Oh no—

Lift up thy head this minute, Mary Elizabeth Dyer!—let go of my neck—let go of my neck, I say—leave clinging to me so, and let me see thy face.

No no dear Rachel, no no, I dare not—I am afraid of thee now, for now thee calls me Mary Elizabeth—

Afraid of me—of me—O Elizabeth, what has thee done?

Oh dear!

And what have I done to deserve this?

Thee—thee!—O nothing dear sister, nothing at all; it is I—I that have been so very foolish and wicked after—

Wicked, say thee?