‘What? Impossible!’
‘She was married at Teignmouth, just before she came back from her holiday, last year.’
‘Well! Upon my word! And that’s why she has been away in Cornwall?’
Again Jessica whispered, her body quivering the while:
‘She has a child. It was born last May.’
‘Well! Upon my word! Now I understand. Who could have imagined!’
‘You see what she is. She hides it for the sake of the money.’
‘But who is her husband?’ asked Samuel, staring at the bloodless face.
‘A man called Tarrant, a relative of Mr. Vawdrey, of Champion Hill. She thought he was rich. I don’t know whether he is or not, but I believe he doesn’t mean to come back to her. He’s in America now.’
Barmby questioned, and Jessica answered, until there was nothing left to ask or to tell,—save the one thing which rose suddenly to Jessica’s lips.