. Abraham's mother was, I suppose, not exactly
an--an educated woman?"

"I never saw her, sir."

"She died when he was very young?"

"Four years old, sir."

"And her son hardly seems to have had much education?"

"It was his own fault, sir; I sent him to school when he came to me,
though, goodness knows, sir, I was short enough of means of doing so.
He had better opportunities than my own daughter there; and though I
say it myself, who ought not to say it, she is a good scholar."

"I'm sure she is,--and a very good young woman too, if I can judge by
her appearance. But about this letter. I am afraid your husband has
not been so particular in his way of living as he should have been."

"What could I do, sir? a poor weak woman!"

"Nothing; what you could do, I'm sure you did do."

"I've always kept a house over my head, though it's very humble, as
you see, sir. And he has had a morsel to eat and a cup to drink of
when he has come here. It is not often that he has troubled me this
many years past."

"Mother," said Mary Swan the younger, "the gentleman won't care to
know about, about all that between you and father."

"Ah, but it is just what I do care to know."

"But, sir, father perhaps mightn't choose it." The obedience of women
to men--to those men to whom they are legally bound--is, I think,
the most remarkable trait in human nature. Nothing equals it but the
instinctive loyalty of a dog. Of course we hear of gray mares, and of
garments worn by the wrong persons. Xanthippe doubtless did live, and
the character from time to time is repeated; but the rule, I think,
is as I have said.

"Mrs. Swan," said Mr. Prendergast, "I should think myself dishonest
were I to worm your secrets out of you, seeing that you are yourself
so truthful and so respectable." Perhaps it may be thought that
Mr. Prendergast was a little late in looking at the matter in this
light. "But it behoves me to learn much of the early history of your
husband, who is now living with you here, and whose name, as I take
it, is not Swan, but Mollett. Your maiden name probably was Swan?"

"But I was honestly married, sir, in the parish church at Putney, and
that young woman was honestly born."

"I am quite sure of it. I have never doubted it. But as I was
saying, I have come here for information about your husband,
and I do not like to ask you questions off your guard,"--oh, Mr.
Prendergast!--"and therefore I think it right to tell you, that