if you can't behave yourself, you'll please to go away a bit
quicker than you came. The idea! Did anyone ever hear!'

'I shan't go till I choose,' replied Clem, 'and that won't be till I've
had my say with that little ----! Where's your father, Jane Snowdon?
You just tell me that.'

'My father,' faltered Jane, in the silence. 'I haven't seen him for a
fortnight.'

'You haven't, eh? Little liar! It's what I used to call you when you
scrubbed our kitchen floor, and it's what I call you now. D'you
remember when you did the 'ouse-work, an' slept under the kitchen
table? D'you remember, eh? Haven't seen him for a fortnight, ain't you?
Oh, he's a nice man, is your father! He ran away an' deserted your
mother. But he's done it once too often, _I_'ll precious soon have the
perlice after him! Has he left you to look after yourself? Has he, eh?
You just tell me that!'

Jane and Mrs. Byass stared at each other in dismay. The letter that had
come this morning enabled them to guess the meaning of Clem's fury. The
latter interpreted their looks as an admission that Jane too was a
victim. She laughed aloud.

'How does it taste, little liar, oh? A second disappointment! You
thought you was a-goin' to have all the money; now you've got none, and
you may go back to Whitehead's. They'll be glad to see you, will
Whitehead's. Oh, he's a nice man, your father! Would you like to know
what's been goin' on ever since he found out your old grandfather?
Would you like to know how he put himself out to prevent you an' that
Kirkwood feller gettin' married, just so that the money mightn't get
into other people's 'ands? Would you like to know how my beast of a
mother and him put their 'eds together to see how they could get hold
of the bloomin' money? An' _you_ thought you was sure of it, didn't
you? Will you come with me to the perlice-station, just to help to
describe what he looks like? An affectionate father, ain't he? Almost
as good as he is a 'usband. You just listen to me, Jane Snowdon. If I
find out as you're havin' money from him, I'll be revenged on you, mind
that! I'll be revenged on you! D'you remember what my hand feels like?
You've had it on the side of your ---- 'ed often enough. You just look
out for yourself!'

'And you just turn out of my house,' cried Bessie, scarlet with wrath.
'This minute! Sarah! Sarah! Run out by the arey-steps and fetch a
p'liceman, this minute! The idea!'

Clem had said her say, however, and with a f