"It is not so." Bessie paused. Her hand clenched that of Urith tightly. "My dearest sister, it is not so. Fox himself told me, and told my father—he struck Anthony."
"I bade him do so—I had not strength in my arm, I had no knife. But I killed him."
"I assure you that this is not true."
"I saw him fall across the hearthstone. My mother wished it. She prayed that it might be so, with her last breath; but she never prayed that I should kill him."
"Urith! Poor Anthony, who is dear to you and to me, is in extreme danger. There is like to be bloody fighting and we must ask God to shield him."
"I cannot pray for him. He is dead, and I cannot pray at all. I am glad he is dead. I would do it all over again, rather than that Julian should have him."
"Julian!" sighed Elizabeth Cleverdon. "What has been told you about Julian?"
"She threatened to pluck him out of my bosom, and she has done it; but she shall not wear him in hers. I killed him because he was false to me, and would leave me."
"No—no—Urith, he never would leave you."
"He was going to leave me. His father asked him to go back to Hall."