"Ask him yourself, Nest."

"Oh, husband, what is it?" said she, kneeling down and bringing her
face to a level with his.

"Don't you know?" said he, heavily. "You won't love me when you do
know. And yet it was not my doing: it was my doom."

"What does he mean, father?" asked Nest, looking up; but she caught a
gesture from Ellis urging her to go on questioning her husband.

"I will love you, husband, whatever has happened. Only let me know
the worst."

A pause, during which Nest and Ellis hung breathless.

"My father is dead, Nest."

Nest caught her breath with a sharp gasp.

"God forgive him!" said she, thinking on her babe.

"God forgive ME!" said Owen.

"You did not--" Nest stopped.

"Yes, I did. Now you know it. It was my doom. How could I help it?
The devil helped me--he placed the stone so that my father fell. I
jumped into the water to save him. I did, indeed, Nest. I was