"Which ain't saying he hadn't ought to be!" the little lamplighter snorted savagely. He suddenly remembered he was there to give his moral support to his sister-in-law.
"That man's got a new streak into him, Judge. I thought he'd about done everything he could do that he shouldn't, but he's broke out in a fresh spot!"
"What has he been doing, Nellie?" asked the judge, who felt that his callers had so far lacked in directness and definiteness.
"What ain't he been doing, you'd better say, Judge!" cried Nellie miserably.
"Is he abusing you or the children?"
"I don't see him from one week's end to another!"
"Am I to understand that he has deserted you?" questioned the judge.
"No, I can't say that, for he sends his clothes home for me to wash and mend."
"Ain't that the human sufferin' limit?" gasped Mr. Shrimplin.
"I suppose you wash and mend them?" And the judge smiled faintly.