ELEANOR 'Tis my husband's foot. Good Eldred Has a kind heart; but his imprisonment Has made him fearful, and he'll never be The man he was. IDONEA I will retire;--good night! [She goes within.] [Enter ELDRED (hides a bundle)] ELDRED Not yet in bed, Eleanor!--there are stains in that frock which must be washed out. ELEANOR What has befallen you? ELDRED I am belated, and you must know the cause-- (speaking low) that is the blood of an unhappy Man. ELEANOR Oh! we are undone for ever. ELDRED Heaven forbid that I should lift my hand against any man. Eleanor, I have shed tears to-night, and it comforts me to think of it. ELEANOR Where, where is he? ELDRED I have done him no harm, but----it will be forgiven me; it would not have been so once. ELEANOR You have not _buried_ anything? You are no richer than when you left me? ELDRED Be at peace; I am innocent. ELEANOR Then God be thanked-- [A short pause; she falls upon his neck.] ELDRED Tonight I met with an old Man lying stretched upon the ground--a sad spectacle: I raised him up with a hope that we might shelter and restore him. ELEANOR (as if ready to run) Where is he? You were not able to bring him _all_ the way with you; let us return, I can help you. [ELDRED shakes his head.] ELDRED He did not seem to wish for life: as I was struggling on, by the light of the moon I saw the stains of blood upon my clothes--he waved his hand, as if it were all useless; and I let him sink again to the ground. ELEANOR Oh that I had been by your side! ELDRED I tell you his hands and his body were cold--how could I disturb his last moments? he strove to turn from me as if he wished to settle into sleep. ELEANOR But, for the stains of blood-- ELDRED He must have fallen, I fancy, for his head was cut; but I think his malady was cold and hunger. ELEANOR Oh, Eldred, I shall never be able to look up at this roof in storm or fair but I shall tremble. ELDRED Is it not enough that my ill stars have kept me abroad to-night till this hour? I come home, and this is my comfort! ELEANOR But did he say nothing which might have set you at ease? ELDRED I thought he grasped my hand while he was muttering something about his Child--his Daughter-- (starting as if he heard a noise). What is that? ELEANOR Eldred, you are a father.