ng under a growing irritation with himself as much as with
Phoebe, he conceived an idea by which his secret might after all be made
a bitter weapon. He assured himself, even while he hated the sight of
her, that justice to Phoebe must be done. She had dwelt in ignorance
long enough. He determined to tell her that she was the wife of a
deserter. The end gained was the real idea in his mind, though he tried
to delude himself. The sudden idea that he might inform Blanchard
through Phoebe of his knowledge really actuated him.

"You may turn your head away as if I was dirt, you little fool, and you
may call me what names you please; but I'm raising this question for
your good, not my own. What do I care? Only it's a man's part to step in
when he sees a woman being trampled on."

"A man!" she said. "You'm not in our lives any more, an' we doan't want
'e in 'em. More like to a meddlin' auld woman than a man, if you ax me."

"You can say that? Then we'll put you out of the question. I, at least,
shall do my duty."

"Is it part of your duty to bully me here alone? Why doan't 'e faace the
man, like a man, 'stead of blusterin' to me 'bout it? Out on you! Let me
pass, I tell 'e."

"Doan't make that noise. Just listen and stand still. I'm in earnest. It
pleases me to know the true history of this child, and I mean to. As a
Justice of the Peace I mean to."

"Ax Will Blanchard then an' let him answer. Maybe you'll be sorry you
spoke arter."

"You can tell him I want to see him; you can say I order him to come to
the Red House between eight and nine next Monday."

"Be you a fule? Who's he, to come at your bidding?"

"He's a--well, no matter. You've got enough to trouble you. But I think
he will come. Tell him that I know where he was during the autumn and
winter of the year that I returned home from Africa. Tell him I know
where he came from to marry you. Tell him the grey suit of clothes
reached the owner safely--remember, the grey suit of clothes. That will
refresh his memory. Then I think he will come fast enough and let me
have the truth concerning this brat. If he refuses, I shall take steps
to see justice done."

"I lay he's never put himself in the power of a black-hearted, cruel
beast like you," blazed out the woman, furious and frightened at once.

"Has he not? Ask him. You don't know where he was during those months? I
thought you didn't. I do. Perhaps this child--perhaps the other woman's
the married one--"

P