forward in the attitude of an
enraged fishwife, for a few moments made the room ring with foul abuse,
that vituperative vernacular of the nether world, which has never yet
been exhibited by typography, and presumably never will be.

'Go it, Clem!' cried her husband, pushing his chair a little back. 'Go
it, my angel! When you've eased your mind a little, I'll explain how it
happens.'

She became silent, glaring at him with murderous eyes. But just at that
moment Mrs. Peckover put her head in at the door, inquiring 'What's up?'

'Come in, if you want to know,' cried her daughter. 'See what you've
let me in for! Didn't I tell you as it might be all a mistake? Oh yes,
you may look!'

Mrs. Peckover was startled; her small, cunning eyes went rapidly from
Clem to Joseph, and she fixed the latter with a gaze of angry suspicion.

'Got a bit of news for you, mother,' resumed Joseph, nodding. 'You and
Clem were precious artful, weren't you now? It's my turn now. Thought
I'd got money--ha, ha!'

'And so you have,' replied Mrs. Peckover. 'We know all about it, so you
needn't try your little game.'

'Know all about it, do you? Well, see here. My brother Mike died out in
Australia, and his son died at the same time--they was drowned. Mike
left no will, and his wife was dead before him. What's the law, eh?
Pity you didn't make sure of that. Why, all his money went to the old
man, every cent of it. I've no claim on a penny. That's the law, my
pretty dears!'

'He's a ---- liar!' roared Clem, who at the best of times would have
brought small understanding to a legal question. 'What did my brother
say in his letter?'

'He was told wrong, that's all, or else he got the idea out of his own
head.'

'Then why did they advertise for you?' inquired Mrs. Peckover, keeping
perfect command of her temper.

'The old man thought he'd like to find his son again, that's all. Ha,
ha! Why can't you take it good-humoured, Clem? You had your joke
yesterday, and you can't say I cut up rough about it. I'm a
good-natured fellow, I am. There's many a man would have broke every
bone in your body, my angel, you just remember that!'

It rather seemed as if the merry proceeding would in this case be
reversed; Joseph had risen, and was prepared to defend himself from an
onslaught. But Mrs. Peckover came between the newly-wedded pair, and by
degrees induced Clem to take a calmer view of the situation, or at all
events to postpone her vengeance. It wa