about it, didn't I? Up
there on the wild moors, in the light of the setting sun, with only God
as our witness, he took me to be his wife. He promised to love and
cherish me, Paul. He told me I was all the world to him, and that he
would die to save me from pain. I told you about it, didn't I? And we
knelt down together, too, on the heather, and it seemed as though God's
angels were all around us as we knelt. And he prayed, Paul. He told
me he was a man of faith and took the Communion. And I believed him.
Oh, yes, we were married. And now he's your judge. My God, think of
it! You the criminal and he the judge, and he your own father!"

"And he never told you his name was Bolitho?" He asked the question
mechanically, as though his mind were far away.

"Never mentioned it. I never thought of it until--but never mind that.
Of course, you told me about Judge Bolitho, but at that time I never
thought of him as being the man I married. Why, he had been your
enemy. He sent you to prison, years ago. He fought you in Brunford.
Well, on the night of the--the murder, I--I--but there is no need to
talk about that now. I--I went into the court, and when I saw him, I
thought I was going mad. He has changed, yes, of course, he has grown
older, his face is fuller, but I knew him in a second. I could take my
Bible oath. I could swear a thousand oaths it is he, Paul. He is the
man who married me. He is the man who is your father, the man who you
swore that night on the Altarnun Moors should do me justice, the man on
whom you said you'd have your revenge. It is the man whom I have hated
and whom you have hated, Paul. When I saw him first, I thought I was
going out of my mind. It seemed as though everything became as black
as night. Only his face was plain. He did not look at me. I do not
think he saw me at all, but, oh, I saw him, and then--and then--but you
know what happened after that, Paul. Throughout the day I have just
wandered, and wandered, and wandered, thinking and thinking. At first
I thought I dared not tell you. I could not, it was too terrible. But
at last my feet were dragged to you. I could not help myself. I came
here and gained admission. Of course, they could not keep me out. I
am your mother. Paul, Paul, what are you looking like that for? You
don't hate me, do you? You understand?"

Her words brought him back to the reality of the situation. At first
he seemed utterly confound