"Yes, it is; that's how he gets his living. Don't he play beautifully?"
Seth, without replying, entered the room, and opened the battle at once.
"Take her home," he said, passing the Duchess to Sally; "your brother and I are going to talk a bit. Don't be afraid, Sal; we sha'n't fight--at least I sha'n't, and I don't think he's got pluck enough. Now," he continued, when the children were gone, "let's make short work of this. What do you mean by tricking my child away day after day in this fashion?"
"Your child!" sneered Ned. "She's as much mine as yours; I love her as much."
"I'll not question that. If you love her for her good, it's a bit of light in you that I'm not sorry to see. But the child's mine, so far as the poor little castaway who's been thrown on the world in the way she's been can be said to be anybody's. And I mean to keep her, and put a stop to any nonsense on your part. Understand that."
".I'm not good enough for the little beauty, I shouldn't wonder to hear you say. Perhaps you can prove that you're better company than me."
"I can. In the first place, you are a drunken sot, which I am not. In the second place, you are a thief, which I am not."
"And in no place at all," cried Ned Chester, both fearful and furious, "you are a liar, which I am not."
"I can prove what I say, and will, to the magistrates, if you want me to. When you came to my stall a little while ago you stole a pair of boots."
"That's well trumped up. To be true, you must have found it out at the time. It's not a good move of yours."