"But didn't it occur to you at the time that he might object or that you might be doing him an injustice in using his name, to cover the identity of a fellow who was running away?"
"No, sir—I thought there were lots of Tenets."
An indulgent smile might have been expected at this point, but so antagonistic and bitter was the general public toward Clyde that such levity was out of the question in this courtroom.
"Now listen, Clyde," continued Jephson, having, as he had just seen, failed to soften the mood of the throng, "you cared for your mother, did you?—or didn't you?"
Objection and argument finally ending in the question being allowed.
"Yes, sir, certainly I cared for her," replied Clyde—but after a slight hesitancy which was noticeable—a tightening of the throat and a swelling and sinking of the chest as he exhaled and inhaled.
"Much?"
"Yes, sir—much." He didn't venture to look at any one now.
"Hadn't she always done as much as she could for you, in her way?"
"Yes, sir."