That's how she
got into trouble first when I was with her. During the six months
she was in prison I should have felt happy if I had not known she
would come out again. And then she did come out, and before she had
been free a fortnight, she began shop-lifting and going on the loose
again- and all to get money to drink with. So seeing I could do
nothing with her and that she was just a-killing of me, I left her,
and came up to London, and went into service again, and I did not know
what had become of her till you and Mr. Ernest here told me. I hope
you'll neither of you say you've seen me."
We assured him we would keep his counsel, and then he left us,
with many protestations of affection towards Ernest, to whom he had
been always much attached.
We talked the situation over, and decided first to get the
children away, and then to come to terms with Ellen concerning their
future custody; as for herself, I proposed that we should make her
an allowance of, say, a pound a week to be paid so long as she gave no
trouble. Ernest did not see where the pound a week was to come from,
so I eased his mind by saying I would pay it myself. Before the day
was two hours older we had got the children, about whom Ellen had
always appeared to be indifferent, and had confided them to the care
of my laundress, a good motherly sort of woman, who took to them and
to whom they took at once.
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