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overshadowed her … the appointed certainty that could never be evaded。
The poor fool was soft white wax in their hands； and took the impression
that they put upon her。 It hardened with time。 It became a part of
herself。 Inseparable from herself； and only to be torn away from her； by
tearing life away from her。
'Eleven years she had lived in the dark house and its gloomy garden。
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He was jealous of the very light and air getting to her； and they kept her
close。 He stopped the wide chimneys； shaded the little windows； left the
strong…stemmed ivy to wander where it would over the house…front； the
moss to accumulate on the untrimmed fruit…trees in the red…walled garden；
the weeds to over…run its green and yellow walks。 He surrounded her
with images of sorrow and desolation。 He caused her to be filled with
fears of the place and of the stories that were told of it； and then on pretext
of correcting them； to be left in it in solitude； or made to shrink about it in
the dark。 When her mind was most depressed and fullest of terrors； then；
he would come out of one of the hiding…places from which he overlooked
her； and present himself as her sole resource。
'Thus； by being from her childhood the one embodiment her life
presented to her of power to coerce and power to relieve； power to bind
and power to loose； the ascendency over her weakness was secured。 She
was twenty…one years and twenty…one days old； when he brought her home
to the gloomy house； his half…witted； frightened； and submissive Bride of
three weeks。
'He had dismissed the governess by that time … what he had left to do；
he could best do alone … and they came back； upon a rain night； to the
scene of her long preparation。 She turned to him upon the threshold； as
the rain was dripping from the porch； and said：
'〃O sir； it is the Death…watch ticking for me！〃
'〃Well！〃 he answered。 〃And if it were？〃 '〃O sir！〃 she returned to
him； 〃look kindly on me； and be merciful to me！ I beg your pardon。 I
will do anything you wish； if you will only forgive me！〃
'That had become the poor fool's constant song： 〃I beg your pardon；〃
and 〃Forgive me！〃
'She was not worth hating； he felt nothing but contempt for her。 But；
she had long been in the way； and he had long been weary； and the work
was near its end； and had to be worked out。
'〃You fool；〃 he said。 〃Go up the stairs！〃
'She obeyed very quickly； murmuring； 〃I will do anything you wish！〃
When he came into the Bride's Chamber； having been a little retarded by
the heavy fastenings of the great door （for they were alone in the house；
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and he had arranged that the people who attended on them should come
and go in the day）； he found her withdrawn to the furthest corner； and
there standing pressed against the paneling as if she would have shrunk
through it： her flaxen hair all wild about her face； and her large eyes
staring at him in vague terror。
'〃What are you afraid of？ Come and sit down by me。〃
'〃I will do anything you wish。 I beg your pardon； sir。 Forgive me！〃
Her monotonous tune as usual。
'〃Ellen； here is a writing that you must write out to…morrow； in your
own hand。 You may as well be seen by others； busily engaged upon it。
When you have written it all fairly； and corrected all mistakes； call in any
two people there may be about the house； and sign your name to it before
them。 Then； put it in your bosom to keep it safe； and when I sit here
again to…morrow night； give it to me。〃
'〃I will do it all； with the greatest care。 I will do anything you wish。〃
'〃Don't shake and tremble； then。〃
'〃I will try my utmost not to do it … if you will only forgive me！〃
'Next day； she sat down at her desk； and did as she had been told。 He
often passed in and out of the room； to observe her； and always saw her
slowly and laboriously writing： repeating to herself the words she copied；
in appearance quite mechanically； and without caring or endeavouring to
comprehend them； so that she did her task。 He saw her follow the
directions she had received； in all particulars； and at night； when they were
alone again in the same Bride's Chamber； and he drew his chair to the
hearth； she timidly approached him from her distant seat； took the paper
from her bosom； and gave it into his hand。
'It secured all her possessions to him； in the event of her death。 He put
her before him； face to face； that he might look at her steadily； and he
asked her； in so many plain words； neither fewer nor more； did she know
that？
'There were spots of ink upon the bosom of her white dress； and they
made her face look whiter and her eyes look larger as she nodded her head。
There were spots of ink upon the hand with which she stood before him；
nervously plaiting and folding her white skirts。
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'He took her by the arm； and looked her； yet more closely and steadily；
in the face。 〃Now； die！ I have done with you。〃
'She shrunk； and uttered a low； suppressed cry。
'〃I am not going to kill you。 I will not endanger my life for yours。
Die！〃
'He sat before her in the gloomy Bride's Chamber； day after day； night
after night； looking the word at her when he did not utter it。 As often as
her large unmeaning eyes were raised from the hands in which she rocked
her head； to the stern figure； sitting with crossed arms and knitted forehead；
in the chair； they read in it； 〃Die！〃 When she dropped asleep in
exhaustion； she was called back to shuddering consciousness； by the
whisper； 〃Die！〃 When she fell upon her old entreaty to be pardoned； she
was answered 〃Die！〃 When she had out…watched and out…suffered the long
night； and the rising sun flamed into the sombre room； she heard it hailed
with； 〃Another day and not dead？ … Die！〃
'Shut up in the deserted mansion； aloof from all mankind； and engaged
alone in such a struggle without any respite； it came to thi