"I don't care to, mother; but we are getting away from the subject. How did Mr. Brandon behave after you moved here?"
"He did nothing to earn money, but managed to obtain liquor at the tavern, and sometimes went off for three or four days or a week, leaving me in ignorance of his whereabouts. At last he did not come back at all, and I heard that he had been arrested for forgery, and was on trial. The trial was quickly over, and he was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of years. I saw him before he was carried to prison, but he treated me so rudely that I have not felt it my duty to visit him since. Gradually I resumed your father's name, and I have been known as Mrs. Morris, though my legal name of course is Brandon."
"It is a pity you ever took the name, mother," said Grit hastily.
"I agree with you, Grit; but I cannot undo the past."
"The court ought to grant you a divorce from such a man."
"Perhaps I might obtain one, but it would cost money, and we have no money to spend on such things."
"If you had one," said Grit thoughtfully, "Mr. Brandon would no longer have any claim upon you."
"That is true."
"You said you had a letter from him. When did you receive it?"
"While you were out, this morning. Mr. Wheeler saw it in the post-office, and brought it along, thinking we might not have occasion to call."