“I will come to see that insolence is not added to cruelty.”
At the door of Mary Baker's cell Mr. Eden hung back as Hodges and Fry passed in. At last, after a struggle, he entered the cell. The turnkeys had gathered up the girl's work and tools, and were coming out with them, while the artisan stood desolate in the middle of the cell.
“Oh, sir,” cried she to Mr. Eden, “I am glad you are here. These blackguards have broke into my cell, and they are robbing it.”
“Hush, Mary; what they are doing is the law, and we were acting against the law.”
“Were we, sir?”
“Yes. It is a bad law, and will be changed; but till it is changed we must obey it. You are only one victim among many. Be patient, and pray for help to bear it.”
“Yes, your reverence. Are they all to be robbed of their tools?”
“All.”
“Poor things!” said Mary Baker.
“Evans, it is beyond my strength—I am but a man; I can bear even this, but I can't bear to see it done. I can't bear it! I can't bear it!”