her father that all this must be brought to an end。 She would not
ask him for money； but she would make him understand that her
services must； at any rate in part； be transferred。 Why should not
she and Morton still live at the cottage when they were married？
And so thinking； and at last resolving； she sat there till the dark
night fell upon her。
She was at last disturbed by feeling a man's hand upon her shoulder。
She jumped from her chair and faced him；not screaming； for it was
especially within her power to control herself； and to make no
utterance except with forethought。 Perhaps it might have been
better for her had she screamed； and sent a shrill shriek down the
shore of that inland sea。 She was silent； however； and with awe…
struck face and outstretched hands gazed into the face of him who
still held her by the shoulder。 The night was dark； but her eyes
were now accustomed to the darkness； and she could see indistinctly
something of his features。 He was a low…sized man； dressed in a
suit of sailor's blue clothing； with a rough cap of hair on his
head； and a beard that had not been clipped for many weeks。 His
eyes were large； and hollow； and frightfully bright； so that she
seemed to see nothing else of him； but she felt the strength of his
fingers as he grasped her tighter and more tightly by the arm。
〃Who are you？〃 she said； after a moment's pause。
〃Do you know me？〃 he asked。
〃Know you！ No。〃 But the words were hardly out of her mouth before
it struck her that the man was Aaron Trow； of whom every one in
Bermuda had been talking。
〃Come into the house；〃 he said； 〃and give me food。〃 And he still
held her with his hand as though he would compel her to follow him。
She stood for a moment thinking what she would say to him； for even
then； with that terrible man standing close to her in the darkness；
her presence of mind did not desert her。 〃Surely；〃 she said； 〃I
will give you food if you are hungry。 But take your hand from me。
No man would lay his hands on a woman。〃
〃A woman！〃 said the stranger。 〃What does the starved wolf care for
that？ A woman's blood is as sweet to him as that of a man。 Come
into the house； I tell you。〃 And then she preceded him through the
open door into the narrow passage； and thence to the kitchen。 There
she saw that the back door； leading out on the other side of the
house； was open； and she knew that he had come down from the road
and entered on that side。 She threw her eyes around； looking for
the negro girls； but they were away； and she remembered that there
was no human being within sound of her voice but this man who had
told her that he was as a wolf thirsty after her blood！
〃Give me food at once；〃 he said。
〃And will you go if I give it you？〃 she asked。
〃I will knock out your brains if you do not；〃 he replied； lifting
from the grate a short； thick poker which lay there。 〃Do as I bid
you at once。 You also would be like a tiger if you had fasted for
two days； as I have done。〃
She could see； as she moved across the kitchen； that he had already
searched there for something that he might eat； but that he had
searched in vain。 With the close economy common among his class in
the islands； all comestibles were kept under close lock and key in
the house of Mr。 Bergen。 Their daily allowance was given day by day
to the negro servants； and even the fragments were then gathered up
and locked away in safety。 She moved across the kitchen to the
accustomed cupboard； taking the keys from her pocket； and he
followed close upon her。 There was a small oil lamp hanging from
the low ceiling which just gave them light to see each other。 She
lifted her hand to this to tare it from its hook； but he prevented
her。 〃No； by Heaven！〃 he said； 〃you don't touch that till I've done
with it。 There's light enough for you to drag out your scraps。〃
She did drag out her scraps and a bowl of milk； which might hold
perhaps a quart。 There was a fragment of bread； a morsel of cold
potato…cake； and the bone of a leg of kid。 〃And is that all？〃 said
he。 But as he spoke he fleshed his teeth against the bone as a dog
would have done。
〃It is the best I have；〃 she said； 〃I wish it were better； and you
should have had it without violence； as you have suffered so long
from hunger。〃
〃Bah！ Better； yes！ You would give the best no doubt； and set the
hell hounds on my track the moment I am gone。 I know how much I
might expect from your charity。〃
〃I would have fed you for pity's sake；〃 she answered。
〃Pity！ Who are you； that you should dare to pity me！ By …； my
young woman； it is I that pity you。 I must cut your throat unless
you give me money。 Do you know that？〃
〃Money！ I have got no money。〃
〃I'll make you have some before I go。 Come； don't move till I have
done。〃 And as he spoke to her he went on tugging at the bone； and
swallowing the lumps of stale bread。 He had already finished the
bowl of milk。 〃And； now；〃 said he； 〃tell me who I am。〃
〃I suppose you are Aaron Trow；〃 she answered； very slowly。 He said
nothing on hearing this； but continued his meal； standing close to
her so that she might not possibly escape from him out into the
darkness。 Twice or thrice in those few minutes she made up her mind
to make such an attempt； feeling that it would be better to leave
him in possession of the house； and make sure； if possible； of her
own life。 There was no money there； not a dollar！ What money her
father kept in his possession was locked up in his safe at Hamilton。
And might he not keep to his threat； and murder her； when he found
that she could give him nothing？ She did not tremble outwardly； as
she stood there watching him as he ate； but she thought how probable
it might be that her last moments were very near。 And yet she could
scrutinise his features； form； and garments； so as to carry away in
her mind a perfect picture of them。 Aaron Trowfor of course it
was the escaped convictwas not a man of frightful； hideous aspect。
Had the world used him well； giving him when he was young ample
wages and separating him from turbulent spirits； he also might have
used the world well； and then women would have praised the
brightness of his eye and the manly vigour of his brow。 But things
had not gone well with him。 He had been separated from the wife he
had loved； and the children who had been raised at his knee；
separated by his own violence； and now； as he had said of himself；
he was a wolf rather than a man。 As he stood there satisfying the
craving of his appetite； breaking up the large morsels of food； he
was an object very sad to be seen。 Hunger had made him gaunt and
yellow； he was squalid with the dirt of his hidden lair； and he had
the look of a beast；that look to which men fall when they live
like the brutes of prey； as outcasts from their brethren。 But still
there was that about his brow which might have redeemed him；which
might have turned her horror into pity； had he been willing that it
should be so。
〃And now give me some brandy；〃 he said。
There was brandy in the house；in the sitting…room which was close
at their hand； and the key of the little press which held it was in
her pocket。 It was useless； she thought； to refuse him； and so she
told him that there was a bottle partly full； but that she must go
to the next room to fetch it him。
〃We'll go together； my darling；〃 he said。 〃There's nothing like
good company。〃 And he again put his hand upon her arm as they
passed into the family sitting…room。
〃I must take the light；〃 she said。 But he unhooked it himself； and
carried it in his own hand。
Again she went to work without trembling。 She found the key of the
side cupboard； and unlocking the door； handed him a bottle which
might contain about half…a…pint of spirits。 〃And is that all？〃 he
said。
〃There is a full bottle here；〃 she answered； handing him another；
〃but if you drink it； you will be drunk； and they will catch you。〃
〃By Heavens； yes； and you would be the first to help them； would you
not？〃
〃Look here；〃 she answered。 〃If you will go now； I will not say a
word to any one of your coming； nor set them on your track to follow
you。 There； take the full bottle with you。 If you will go； you
shall be safe from me。〃
〃What； and go without money！〃
〃I have none to give you。 You may believe me when I say so。 I have
not a dollar in the house。〃
Before he spoke again he raised the half empty bottle to his mouth；
and drank as long as there was a drop to drink。 〃There；〃 said he；
putting the bottle down； 〃I am better after that。 As to the other；
you are right； and I will take it with me。 And now； young woman；
about the money？〃
〃I tell you that I have not a dollar。〃
〃Look here；〃 said he； and he spoke now in a softer voice； as though
he would be on friendly terms with her。 〃Give me ten sovereigns；
and I will go。 I know you have it； and with ten sovereigns it is
possible that I may save my life。 You are good； and would not wish
that a man should die so horrid a death。 I know you are good。
Come； give me the money。〃 And he put his hands up； beseeching her；
and looked into her face with imploring eyes。