She said it with the most stony-faced calmness, with utter disregard of what significance her words had. A strong, mystic wall of cold flint insulated her. Strangely it came to Shefford how impossible either to doubt or believe her. Yet he did both! Judge Stone showed a little heat.
“You don't know the father of one or all of these children?” he queried, with sharp rising inflection of voice.
“I do not.”
“Madam, I beg to remind you that you are under oath.”
The woman did not reply.
“These children are nameless, then—illegitimate?”
“They are.”
“You swear you are not the sealed wife of some Mormon?”
“I swear.”
“How do you live—maintain yourself?”