"The fact is, we understood each other. She had been very fond of me, poor woman, and she stuck to me through my disgrace, and when I came out of prison she was willing to do the best possible for me and for you. Of course, you can understand that without marriage I could not accept her services, so—I married her. I don't go about with her a great deal, you will have observed that?"
"Yes, and I have wondered," I said.
"But she has been good to you. She has taken you about."
"Oh, yes. I hated going about with her."
"She was anxious, and so was I, that you should marry well. She held out to me as the bait—your salvation."
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I say. When I entered into that worst prison of all, it was for your sake."
"Father—oh, father!"
"It is true, child. There, it's out. It is the worst prison of all—God help me! And now, at the end, you desert me!"
"No, I won't," I said, flinging my arms round his neck; "no, I never will! It doesn't matter what you did, I'll stick to you—I will, I will, I will!"