The wretch must have been buried for ever beneath the great
mass of the fallen cliff. I went no more.'
'Oh, mother, you should have gone every day. Think of the frightful
risk, mother. On the very day after you ceased your visits the body
might have been turned up by the tide, and she might have gone and
seen it.'
The picture was too terrible. I fell back exhausted. I revived,
however, in a somewhat calmer mood. When my mother came into the room
again, I returned at once to the subject. I reproached her bitterly
for not having gone every day. She listened to my reproaches in
entire calmness.
'It was idle to keep repeating these visits every day,' said she,
'and I consider that I have fully performed my part of the compact. I
expect you to fulfil yours.'
I remained silent, preparing for a deadly struggle with the only
being on earth I had ever really feared.
'I have fully kept my word, Henry,' said she, 'and have done for you
more than my duty to your father's memory warranted me in doing.'
'But, mother, you did not do all that you promised to do; you did not
prevent all risk of Winifred's finding it.
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