shameless woman's offspring; cast it away this instant--this
instant!"

In this ungovernable rage, seeing that Owen was far from complying
with his command, he snatched the poor infant from the loving arms
that held it, and throwing it to his mother, left the house
inarticulate with fury.

Nest--who had been pale and still as marble during this terrible
dialogue, looking on and listening as if fascinated by the words that
smote her heart--opened her arms to receive and cherish her precious
babe; but the boy was not destined to reach the white refuge of her
breast. The furious action of the Squire had been almost without
aim, and the infant fell against the sharp edge of the dresser down
on to the stone floor.

Owen sprang up to take the child, but he lay so still, so motionless,
that the awe of death came over the father, and he stooped down to
gaze more closely. At that moment, the upturned, filmy eyes rolled
convulsively--a spasm passed along the body--and the lips, yet warm
with kissing, quivered into everlasting rest.

A word from her husband told Nest all. She slid down from her seat,
and lay by her little son as corpse-like as he, unheeding all the
agonizing endearments and passionate adjurations of her husband. And
that poor, desolate husband and father! Scarce one little quarter of
an hour, and he had been so blessed in his consciousness of love! the
bright promise of many years on his infant's face, and the new, fresh
soul beaming forth in its awakened intelligence. And there it was;
the little clay image, that would never more gladden up at the sight