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Ishouldhavethegreatestdifficultytotellyouwhatfollowednextafterthistragiccircumstance。Itisalltome，asIlookbackuponit，mixed，strenuous，andineffectual，likethestrugglesofasleeperinanightmare。Clara，Iremember，utteredabrokensighandwouldhavefallenforwardtoearth，hadnotNorthmourandIsupportedherinsensiblebody。Idonotthinkwewereattacked:
Idonotremembereventohaveseenanassailant；andIbelievewedesertedMr。Huddlestonewithoutaglance。Ionlyrememberrunninglikeamaninapanic，nowcarryingClaraaltogetherinmyownarms，nowsharingherweightwithNorthmour，nowscufflingconfusedlyforthepossessionofthatdearburden。WhyweshouldhavemadeformycampintheHemlockDen，orhowwereachedit，arepointslostforevertomyrecollection。ThefirstmomentatwhichIbecamedefinitelysure，Clarahadbeensufferedtofallagainsttheoutsideofmylittletent，NorthmourandIweretumblingtogetherontheground，andhe，withcontainedferocity，wasstrikingformyheadwiththebuttofhisrevolver。Hehadalreadytwicewoundedmeonthescalp；anditistotheconsequentlossofbloodthatIamtemptedtoattributethesuddenclearnessofmymind。
Icaughthimbythewrist。
“Northmour，“Iremembersaying，“youcankillmeafterwards。LetusfirstattendtoClara。“
Hewasatthatmomentuppermost。Scarcelyhadthewordspassedmylips，whenhehadleapedtohisfeetandrantowardthetent；andthenextmoment，hewasstrainingClaratohisheartandcoveringherunconscioushandsandfacewithhiscaresses。
“Shame！“Icried。“Shametoyou，Northmour！“
And，giddythoughIstillwas，Istruckhimrepeatedlyupontheheadandshoulders。
Herelinquishedhisgrasp，andfacedmeinthebrokenmoonlight。
“Ihadyouunder，andIletyougo，“saidhe；“andnowyoustrikeme！Coward！“
“Youarethecoward，“Iretorted。“Didshewishyourkisseswhileshewasstillsensibleofwhatyouwanted？Notshe！Andnowshemaybedying；andyouwastethisprecioustime，andabuseherhelplessness。Standaside，andletmehelpher。“
Heconfrontedmeforamoment，whiteandmenacing；thensuddenlyhesteppedaside。
“Helpherthen，“saidhe。
Ithrewmyselfonmykneesbesideher，andloosened，aswellasI
wasable，herdressandcorset；butwhileIwasthusengaged，agraspdescendedonmyshoulder。
“Keepyourhandsoffher，“saidNorthmour，fiercely。“DoyouthinkIhavenobloodinmyveins？“
“Northmour，“Icried，“ifyouwillneitherhelpheryourself，norletmedoso，doyouknowthatIshallhavetokillyou？“
“Thatisbetter！“hecried。“Letherdiealso，where’stheharm？
Stepasidefromthatgirl！andstanduptofight。“
“Youwillobserve，“saidI，halfrising，“thatIhavenotkissedheryet。“
“Idareyouto，“hecried。
Idonotknowwhatpossessedme；itwasoneofthethingsIammostashamedofinmylife，though，asmywifeusedtosay，Iknewthatmykisseswouldbealwayswelcomewereshedeadorliving；downI
fellagainuponmyknees，partedthehairfromherforehead，and，withthedearestrespect，laidmylipsforamomentonthatcoldbrow。Itwassuchacaressasafathermighthavegiven；itwassuchaoneaswasnotunbecomingfromamansoontodietoawomanalreadydead。
“Andnow，“saidI，“Iamatyourservice，Mr。Northmour。“
ButIsaw，tomysurprise，thathehadturnedhisbackuponme。
“Doyouhear？“Iasked。
“Yes，“saidhe，“Ido。Ifyouwishtofight，Iamready。Ifnot，goonandsaveClara。Allisonetome。“
Ididnotwaittobetwicebidden；but，stoopingagainoverClara，continuedmyeffortstoreviveher。Shestilllaywhiteandlifeless；Ibegantofearthathersweetspirithadindeedfledbeyondrecall，andhorro
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