Besides I'm going to shame the woman's relations into taking her away, and
they'll be glad there's one less to support."

They drew up a brief, strong agreement, and Watterly took it to the widow to
sign. He found her in great excitement and Jane looking at her defiantly. "I
told you he was the one who enticed away my offspring," she began, almost
hysterically. "He's a cold-blooded villain! If there's a law in the land,
I'll--"

"Stop!" thundered Watterly. His voice was so high and authoritative that she
did stop, and with open mouth stared at the superintendent. "Now, be quiet and
listen to me," he continued. "Either you are a sane woman and can stop this
foolishness, or else you are insane and must be treated as such. You have
your choice. You can't tell me anything about Holcroft; I've known him since
he was a boy. He doesn't want your girl. She ran away to him, didn't you?"
to Jane, who nodded. "But he's willing to take her, to teach her something and
give her a chance. His motive is pure kindness, and he has a good wife
who'll--"

"I see it all," cried the widow, tragically clasping her hands. "It's his
wife's doings! She wishes to triumph over me, and even to usurp my place in
ministering to my child. Was there ever such an outrage? Such a bold,
vindictive female--"

Here Jane, in a paroxysm of indignant protest, seized her mother and began to
shake her so violently that she could not speak.

"Stop that!" said Watterly, repressing laughter with difficulty. "I see you
are insane and the law will have to step in and take care of you both."