“ ‘Is she gone?’ he eagerly inquired.

“ ‘Yes⁠—yes,’ said I; ‘she shall not hurt you.’

“ ‘I’ll tell you what, Jem,’ said the man, in a low voice, ‘she does hurt me. There’s something in her eyes wakes such a dreadful fear in my heart, that it drives me mad. All last night, her large, staring eyes and pale face were close to mine; wherever I turned, they turned; and whenever I started up from my sleep, she was at the bedside looking at me.’ He drew me closer to him, as he said in a deep alarmed whisper, ‘Jem, she must be an evil spirit⁠—a devil! Hush! I know she is. If she had been a woman she would have died long ago. No woman could have borne what she has.’

“I sickened at the thought of the long course of cruelty and neglect which must have occurred to produce such an impression on such a man. I could say nothing in reply; for who could offer hope, or consolation, to the abject being before me?