stay with me long, not at that time. He went
away and left me; and then all that happened, that you know of--down
in Dorsetshire, as they told me. And afterwards when he went away on
his keeping, leaving Aby behind, I took the child, and said that I
was his aunt. There were reasons then; and I feared-- But never mind
about that, sir; for anything that I was wrong enough to say then
to the contrary, I am his lawful wedded wife, and before my face he
won't deny it. And then when he was sore pressed and in trouble he
came back to me, and after that Mary here was born; and one other, a
boy, who, God rest him, has gone from these troubles. And since that
it is not often that he has been with me. But now, now that he is
here, you should have pity on us, and give him another chance."

But still Mr. Mollett had said nothing himself. He sat during
all this time, wearily moving his head to and fro, as though the
conversation were anything but comfortable to him. And, indeed, it
cannot be presumed to have been very pleasant. He moved his head
slowly and wearily to and fro; every now and then lifting up one hand
weakly, as though deprecating any recurrence to circumstances so
decidedly unpleasant. But Mr. Prendergast was determined that he
should speak.

"Mr. Mollett," said he, "I must beg you to say in so many words,
whether the statement of this lady is correct or is incorrect. Do you
acknowledge her for your lawful wife?"

"He daren't deny me, sir," said the woman, who was, perhaps, a little
too eager in the matter.

"Father, why don't you behave like a man and speak?" said his
daughter, now turning upon him. "You have done ill to all of us;--to
so many; but now--"

"And are you going to turn against me, Mary?" he whined out, almost
crying.

"Turn against you! no, I have never done that. But look at mother.
Would you let that gentleman think that she is--what I won't name
before him? Will you say that I am not your honest-born child? You
have done very wickedly, and you must now make what amends is in your
power. If you do not answer him here he will make you answer in some
worse place than this."

"What is it I am to say, sir?" he whined out again.

"Is this lady here your legal wife?"

"Yes, sir," said the poor man, whimpering.

"And that marriage ceremony which you went through in Dorsetshire
with Miss Wainwright was not a legal marriage?"

"I suppose not, sir."

"You were well aware at the time that you wer