University of Virginia Library

And Nelly tried to stop the man—
But, bless me! she said, the tongue of him ran
Like a wheel, she said. And would she be this?
And would she be that? and all the list
Of the things he'd do, and the things he'd give her—
And—“I will! I will!” and on like a river—
And promisin' the kind(!) he'd be—
And—“Oh, I'll make you happy!”says he,
And—“Will ye, will ye be my wife?”
And he stopped to get wind. “I'll send this knife,”
Says Nelly, “through your black heart,
If you'll spake another word.” The start
He gave! and the cup fallin' out of his hand!
“Through your black heart, you bad man!”
Says Nelly, and she took a step
Towards him, and the fella kep'
His eye on her still; but he backed and backed,
And out on the door; and—aw, it's a fact,
Nobody said another word
About prayers that night that ever I heard—
No: and next mornin' the gel was sayin'
Good-bye to them there, when in comes Cain.
“Clear out of this!” says Cain to the gels:
“I must spake to this pessin, and nobody else
Is wanted here.” So of course they went.
“Now, Nelly,” he says, “you're leavin' Renshent;
And you'll return,” he says, “for Lammas,
And marry me. Promise now! promise! promise!”
But Nelly made a dart at the dresser,
And had a knife in a minute, bless her!—
The gel was quick. But Cain gave a sign,
And two policemen, that was eyein'
The whole, unknownced, gript Nelly, by George,
Like a shot,—and “I give this pessin in charge
For the murder of Mrs. Cain,” he says;
And he stands like a rock, and his hand in his breast.
Poor Nelly! poor Nelly! and haulin' and pushin',
And a car there to take her to Castle Rushen.
But just when they started he tried once more,
And stooped, and whispered somethin' to her.
But the people didn' hear what he said,
And Nelly only shook her head—
And, “All right!” and nothin' more to say with them,
And up goes the driver, and off and away with them.
The divil! I think I see his hoofs!
But he'd got his proofs, he'd got his proofs.
His proofs—aw yes: for who was it bought
This pison but Nelly, that little thought
What was goin' to happen: and then the fight
She had with the misthress that very night—
The servants would swear to as soon as wink,
And lookin' middlin' ugly, I think.