“Darned ef I do.”
“Well; a man must do something to prove himself worthy of the name; at least one deed during his lifetime. There’s one I’ve got to do—must do it, before I can think of anything else.”
“That is?”
“Kill Richard Darke, As you know, I’ve sworn it, and nothing shall come between me and my oath. No, Sime, not even she who stands yonder; though I can’t tell how it pains me to separate from her, now.”
“Good Lord! that will be a painful partin’! Poor gurl! I reckin her heart’s been nigh broke arready. She hasn’t the peach colour she used to hev. It’s clean faded out o’ her cheeks, an’ what your goin’ to do now aint the way to bring it back agin.”
“I cannot help it, Sime. I hear my mother calling me. Go, now! I wish it; I insist upon it!”
Saying this, he turns towards Helen Armstrong to speak a word, which he knows will be sad as was ever breathed into the ear of woman.