Ay, ay! I know
why; but a mother only gives up her son's heart inch by inch to his
wife, and then she gives it up with a grudge. No, Jem! thou must go
with thy mother just now, if ever thou hopest for God's blessing.
She's a widow, and has none but thee. Never fear for Mary! She's
young, and will struggle through. They are decent people, these
folk she is with, and I'll watch o'er her as though she was my own
poor girl, that lies cold enough in London town. I grant ye, it's
hard enough for her to be left among strangers. To my mind, John
Barton would be more in the way of his duty, looking after his
daughter, than delegating it up and down the country, looking after
every one's business but his own."
A new idea and a new fear came into Jem's mind. What if Mary should
implicate her father?
"She raves terribly," said he. "All night long she's been speaking
of her father, and mixing up thoughts of him with the trial she saw
yesterday. I should not wonder if she'll speak of him as being in
court next thing."
"I should na wonder, either," answered Job.
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