Who was it persuaded me to let Clara go from 'ome?
Who was it come here an' talked an' talked till he got his way?
He knew what 'ud be the end of it--he knew, I tell you,--an' it's just what he wanted.

Hasn't he been drawin' away from us ever since the girl left?
I saw it all that night when he came here persuadin' me, an' I told it him plain.

He wanted to 'a done with her, and to a' done with us.

Am I speakin' the truth or not ?' 'Why should he think that way, John ?' pleaded the woman faintly.

'You know very well as Clara 'ud never listen to him.