"Humph!"
"Why do you say, Humph, Ben?"
"Just answer me one question, Mrs. O. Did you ever hear of a young girl as was neglected by her mother—her mother who of all ought to be the person to attend to her—turning out well?"
"Do not terrify me, Ben."
"Well, all I have got to say is, that Johanna can't be in two places at once, and as she isn't at home, how, I would ask any reasonable Christian, can she attend to the old man?"
"Not at home, Ben?"
"Not—at—home!"
"Oh, Heaven! why did I not stay in that dreadful man's house, and let him murder me! Why did I not tell him at once that I knew of his crime, and implore him to make me his next victim! Oh, Ben, if you have any compassion in your disposition you will tell me all, and then I shall know what to hope, and what to dread."
"Well," said Ben, "here goes then."
"What goes?"