In the first place, were you not a witness, last night, of his cruel ill-usage of that poor child?
(Mr.Blyth told me of it.) The fellow actually beat her, did he not ?" "Oh, indeed he did, sir!--beat her most cruelly with a cane." "And you saw it all yourself ?" "I did, sir.

He'd have used her worse, if I hadn't been by to prevent him." "Very well.

Now tell me if you or your husband have signed any agreement--any papers, I mean, giving this man a right to claim the child as one of his performers ?" _"Me_ sign an agreement, sir! I never did such a thing in all my life.
Jubber would think himself insulted, if you only talked of his signing an agreement with such as me or Jemmy." "Better and better.

Now, my third question refers to little Mary herself.

I will undertake to put it out of this blackguard's power ever to lay a finger on her again--but I can only do so on one condition, which it rests entirely with you to grant." "I'll do anything to save her, sir; I will indeed." "The condition is that you consent to Mr.Blyth's proposal; for I can only ensure the child's safety on those terms." "Then, sir, I consent to it," said Mrs.Peckover, speaking with a sudden firmness of tone and manner which almost startled Mrs.Joyce, who stood by listening anxiously.