niel waved his arm and made off across the street. Kate, clutching her
bundle again, panted along by-ways; reaching the house-door she rang
a bell twice, and Emma admitted her. They climbed together to an upper
room, where Kate flung her burden on to the floor and began at once to
relate with vehemence all that Daniel had told her. The calumny lost
nothing in her repetition. After listening in surprise for a few
moments, Emma turned away and quietly began to cut bread and butter for
the children, who were having their tea.

'Haven't you got anything to say?' cried her sister. 'I suppose he'll
be telling his foul lies about me next. Oh, he's a good-'earted man, is
Mutimer! Perhaps you'll believe me now. Are you going to let him talk
what he likes about you?'

Since the abandonment of the house in Wilton Square, Kate had
incessantly railed in this way; it was a joy to her to have discovered
new matter for invective. Emma's persistent silence maddened her; even
now not a word was to be got from the girl.

'Can't you speak?' shrilled Mrs. Clay. 'If you don't do something, I let
you know that I shall! I'm not going to stand this kind o' thing, don't
think it. If they talk ill of you they'll do the same of me. It's time
that devil had something for himself. You might be made o' stone! I only
hope I may meet him in the streets, that's all! I'll show him up, see
if I don't! I'll let all the people know what he is, the cur! I'll do
something to make him give me in charge, and then I'll tell it all out
before the magistrates. I don't care what comes, I'll find some way of
paying out that beast!'

Emma turned angrily.

'Hold your tongue, Kate! If you go on like this day after day we shall
have to part; I can't put up with it, so there now! I've begged and
prayed you to stop, and you don't pay the least heed to me; I think you
might have more kindness. You'll never make me say a single word about
him, do what you will; I've told you that many a time, and I mean what I
say. Let him say what he likes and do what he likes. It's nothing to me,
and it doesn't concern you. You'll drive me out of the house again, like
you did the other night. I can't bear it. Do you understand, Kate?--I
can't bear it!'

Her voice shook, and there were tears of uttermost shame and misery in
her eyes. The children sitting at the table, though accustomed to scenes
of this kind, looked at the disputants with troubled faces, and at
length the younger be