"Is he your son?"
"No," she said, after a moment's hesitation.
"Is he any relation of yours?"
"Yes, he's my nephew," said Mother Watson, making up her mind to a falsehood as the only means of recovering Mark.
"Is this true?" asked the officer.
"No, it isn't," said Mark. "She's no relation to me, but when my mother died she offered to take care of me. Instead of that she's half starved me, and beaten me with a strap when I didn't bring home as much money as she wanted."
"Then you don't want to go back with her?"
"No, I'm going to take care of myself."
"Is there anybody that will prove the truth of what you say?"