"I can; but why was I there as late as eight o'clock—the snow didn't fall thickly till then—with her husband away? Don't you see, mother, everything tells against us? Besides, we have burnt our bridges now; there can be no return for Kate."
She was silent for a space, then—
"Do you want Strangeways to get the divorce, Griff?" she flashed.
"Honestly, yes. But we have no choice in the matter; the verdict is bound to go against us, and it will spare Kate a great deal if we don't appear at all."
Again Mrs. Lomax was silent.
"Griff," she said, with another sudden glance, "do you intend to marry her?"
"I do, mother."
"Look me straight in the eyes, dear. I don't mean to doubt you, you know, if you will only answer me one question. You kissed each other that night; it was a grave wrong-doing. Was there no worse sin than that, Griff? Are you trying to shield the woman by lying to your mother?"
"Mother, mother! Have I ever lied to you?" There was keen reproach in his voice.