She thought that he loathed and despised his wife.

Suddenly Jonah looked up at her.
"Will yer meet me to-morrow afternoon ?" he asked abruptly.
"Why ?" said Clara, alarmed and surprised.
"I want yer to 'elp me.

Since 'er mother died, she's gone from bad to worse.

I've got no one to 'elp me, an' I feel I'll burst if I don't talk it over with somebody." "I hardly know," replied Clara, taken by surprise.
"Say the Mosman boat at half past two, an' I'll be there," said Jonah brusquely.
"Very well," said Clara..