rds him--you did your
best to get him a heavy punishment. Through you he was sent to
Strangeways Gaol for six months, he an innocent man! Then you fought
him at the election. You told all sorts of lies about him, and you
besmirched my name; he your son, and I your wife, the woman you
promised to love and cherish, and then deserted. Do you understand?
Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand," he said; but still it did not seem like Judge
Bolitho's voice at all.

"But mind," and here her voice rose somewhat. "But mind, I'm your
wife. You married me. I'm your true lawful wife. You don't deny
that?"

"Jean," he said, "you don't know; you cannot know. But you'll forgive
me, won't you? I do not know myself, that is---- No, of course I
can't expect you to forgive me."

"Forgive you?" said the woman, and there was a world of scorn in her
tones. "Forgive you, when I've suffered twenty-five years of disgrace
because of you! Forgive you, when my son has been lying in gaol
because of you! Forgive you, when, but for you, he might be free now!
But there's a God in the heaven."

"And Paul Stepaside is my son, my son!"

The thought seemed to have a kind of fascination for him. He repeated
it over again and again, as though he took a certain pleasure in doing
so. He remembered all that had taken place, remembered that ever since
they had first met there had seemed to be a kind of fatality which
caused them to feel antagonism for each other. He remembered Paul's
words: "Mr. Bolitho and I will meet again, and always to fight, always
to fight!" And he was his son! He had never dreamed of this. Often
during the years which had elapsed since he last saw the girl he had
married, he had wondered what had become of her, but never once had he
dreamed of this. It seemed to him as though the foundations of his
life were taken away from him. His brain refused to act. His eyes
refused to see. A great blackness fell upon everything. He who was
usually so keen witted, so clear sighted, could not grasp the meaning
of all he had heard, could not understand the issues. He only knew
that he was enveloped in a great black cloud, and that he could not see
which way to turn or what to do.

"Oh, my God, forgive me!"

The woman turned to him as he uttered these words. "God forgive you!"
she cried. "How can God forgive you? I would cease to believe in Him
if He did. What, you! who basely deserted me; you! who married me