Bressant

As he loosened the hold of one hand, to emphasize this oath, the

senseless body, which he had been upholding, swung round, and swayed,

toward the floor. He dropped the arm which remained in his grasp, and

the red flush on his cheek and forehead died away into pallor, as he

looked down at the dark heap of clothes lying at his feet. Finally he

stooped down, and lifted her on to the sofa.

"She's not dead," muttered he, after scrutinizing the woman's face for a

moment; "she has her punishment, though, like the rest of us."

He wrote an address on a couple of pieces of paper which he found in the

drawer of the table, and fastened them to the box and trunk with some

mucilage. Then he took his fur cap, and having banged on the fat Irish

servant-girl's door, and told her that her mistress was lying insensible

in his study, he left the house without delay. It wanted still an hour

to the time for the earliest morning train to New York, and, as the

young man did not care to subject himself to questions and remarks from

the officials at the village depot, he determined to walk down the

track, a distance of between four and five miles, to the station below.

Off he started accordingly, and, arriving there in ample time, was able

to eat a good breakfast of cold meat, hard-boiled eggs, and

crackers--all the solid contents of the refreshment-room--before his

train got in. He bought his ticket, stepped on board, flung himself into

a seat, and left all behind him.