at liberty, she was scared out of the ways of the world, and went to him to be sheltered.

Put the case that he took her in, and that he kept down the old, wild, violent nature whenever he saw an inkling of its breaking out, by asserting his power over her in the old way. Do you comprehend the imaginary case?”

“Quite.”

“Put the case that the child grew up, and was married for money. That the mother was still living. That the father was still living. That the mother and father, unknown to one another, were dwelling within so many miles, furlongs, yards if you like, of one another.

That the secret was still a secret, except that you had got wind of it. Put that last case to yourself very carefully.”