What do _you_ care either? She's no child of
yours. But I tell you I'd see you an' all your children beg an' die
in the streets rather than a hair of my own girl's head should be
touched!'
Indulgence of his passion was making a madman of him. Never till now
had he uttered an unfeeling word to his wife, but the look with
which lie accompanied this brutal speech was one of fiery hatred.
'Don't turn on _her_!' cried Sidney, with bitterness. 'Say what you
like to me, and believe the worst you can of me; I shouldn't have
come here if I hadn't been ready to bear everything. It's no good
speaking reason to you now, but maybe you'll understand some day.'
'Who know's as she's come to harm?' urged Mrs. Hewett. 'Nobody can
say it of her for certain, yet.'
'I'd have told him that, if he'd only listened to me and given me
credit for honesty,' said Kirkwood. 'It is as likely as not she's
gone away just because I angered her on Saturday. Perhaps she said
to herself she'd have done with me once for all. It would be just
her way.'
'Speak another word against my girl,' Hewett shouted,
misinterpreting the last phrase, 'an' I'll do more than say what I
think of you--old man though they call me! Take yourself out of
this room; it was the worst day of my life that ever you came into
it.
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