“Have you heard anything? Is anything wrong?”
“I have heard nothing, but I have seen a great deal, because I persist in visiting, in spite of Mr Hallam’s objection to my presence.”
“I say, my dear, that man is always civil to you, I hope?” cried Otway sharply.
“My dear Jack, be quiet,” said Mrs Otway. “Of course he is. I visit there because I have good reasons for so doing.”
“Tell me,” said Bayle anxiously.
“I have seen a great deal,” continued Mrs Otway: “but it all comes to one point.” Bayle looked at her inquiringly. “That it is very dreadful for those two sweet, delicate women to have come out here to such a fate. The man is dreadful!”
“They will redeem him,” said Bayle huskily. “Poor wretch! he has had a terrible experience. This convict life is worse than capital punishment. We must be patient, Mrs Otway. The habits of a number of years are not got rid of in a few months. He will change.”
“Will he?” said Mrs Otway shortly.
“Yes; they will, as I said before, redeem him. The man has great natural love for his wife and child.”
“Do you think this?”