Now you come an' stand before me--why,
I couldn't a' thought there was a man had so little shame in him!'
Mrs. Hewett entered the room; the loud angry voice had reached her
ears, and in spite of. terror she came to interpose between the two
men.
'Do you know what he's come to tell me?' cried her husband. 'Oh, you
do! He's been tryin' to talk you over, has he? You just answer to
me, an' tell the truth. Who was it persuaded me to let Clara go from
'ome? Who was it come here an' talked an' talked till he got his
way? He knew what 'ud be the end of it--he knew, I tell you,--
an' it's just what he wanted. Hasn't he been drawin' away from us
ever since the girl left? I saw it all that night when he came here
persuadin' me, an' I told it him plain. He wanted to 'a done with
her, and to a' done with us. Am I speakin' the truth or not?'
'Why should he think that way, John?' pleaded the woman faintly.
'You know very well as Clara 'ud never listen to him. What need had
he to do such things?'
'Oh yes, I'm wrong! Of course I'm wrong! You always did go against
me when there was anything to do with Clara. She'd never listen to
him? No, of course she wouldn't, an' he couldn't rest until he saw
her come to harm.
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