'
'My father,' faltered Jane, in the silence. 'I haven't seen him for
a fortnight.'
'You haven't, eh? Little liar! It's what I used to call you when you
scrubbed our kitchen floor, and it's what I call you now. D'you
remember when you did the 'ouse-work, an' slept under the kitchen
table? D'you remember, eh? Haven't seen him for a fortnight, ain't
you? Oh, he's a nice man, is your father! He ran away an' deserted
your mother. But he's done it once too often, _I_'ll precious soon
have the perlice after him! Has he left you to look after yourself?
Has he, eh? You just tell me that!'
Jane and Mrs. Byass stared at each other in dismay. The letter that
had come this morning enabled them to guess the meaning of Clem's
fury. The latter interpreted their looks as an admission that Jane
too was a victim. She laughed aloud.
'How does it taste, little liar, oh? A second disappointment! You
thought you was a-goin' to have all the money; now you've got none,
and you may go back to Whitehead's. They'll be glad to see you, will
Whitehead's. Oh, he's a nice man, your father! Would you like to
know what's been goin' on ever since he found out your old
grandfather? Would you like to know how he put himself out to
prevent you an' that Kirkwood feller gettin' married, just so that
the money mightn't get into other people's 'ands? Would you like to
know how my beast of a mother and him put their 'eds together to see
how they could get hold of the bloomin' money? An' _you_ thought you
was sure of it, didn't you? Will you come with me to the
perlice-station, just to help to describe what he looks like? An
affectionate father, ain't he? Almost as good as he is a 'usband.
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