His sufferings were real, at least, in Ellen's presence.

She was the only link that bound him to long-past happier times.

She was her mother over again--the woman who had betrayed another man for him and gone with him to her ruin and death.
"Dad, don't go on so," said Ellen, breaking in upon her father's rant.
"I will be true to y'u--as my mother was....

I am a Jorth.

Your place is my place--your fight is my fight....