"What will it do with us?" gasped the widow.

"Well, it ought to put you in strait jackets to begin with--"

"I've got some sense if mother aint!" cried Jane, commencing to sob.

"It's plain the law'll decide your mother's not fit to take care of you.
Anyone who can even imagine such silly ridiculous things as she's just said
must be looked after. You MAY take a notion, Mrs. Mumpson, that I'm a
murderer or a giraffe. It would be just as sensible as your other talk."

"What does Mr. Holcroft offer?" said the widow, cooling off rapidly. If there
was an atom of common sense left in any of his pauper charges, Watterly soon
brought it into play, and his vague threatenings of law were always
awe-inspiring.

"He makes a very kind offer that you would jump at if you had sense--a good
home for your child. You ought to know she can't stay here and live on
charity if anyone is willing to take her."

"Of course I would be permitted to visit my child from time to time? He
couldn't be so monstrously hard-hearted as--"

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Watterly impatiently. "The idea of his letting you come
to his house after what you've said about him! I've no time to waste in
foolishness, or he either. He will let Jane visit you, but you are to sign
this paper and keep the agreement not to go near him or make any trouble
whatever."

"It's an abominable--"