"Know him! If you knew him as well, it would be better for you. You'll know him well enough before long. You come from Virginia, don't you?"
"Yes."
"You must go back there."
"If Philip wishes it."
"I tell you, you must go at once—to-day. I will give you money, if you have none. And you must never speak of what has happened in this house. Do you understand me?"
"But Philip"—
"Forget Philip. You must never see him any more. Why should you want to? Don't you know that he's a brute, and will beat you as he beat me, if you stay with him. Why should. you care about him?"
"He is my husband, and you should not speak about him so to me," said Miranda, struggling with her tears, and scarce knowing in what vein to converse with the rude woman, whose strange language bewildered and frightened her.
"Bah!" said Moll, roughly. "You're a simpleton. There, don't cry, though heaven knows you've cause enough, poor thing! Philip Searle's a villain. I could send him to the State prison if I chose."
"Oh, no! don't say that; indeed, don't."