Mr.Mollett senior had never debated the matter in terms sharp and decisive as these were.

Think who they were of whom this brute was talking to that wretched gentleman; the wife of his bosom, than whom no wife was ever more dearly prized; the son of his love, the centre of all his hopes, the heir of his wealth--if that might still be so.

And yet he listened to such words as these, and did not call in his servants to turn the speaker of them out of his doors.
"I've no wish for that 'Appy 'Ouse man, Sir Thomas; not the least.
And as for your good lady, she's nothing to me one way or the other--whatever she may be to my governor--" and here there fell a spasm upon the poor man's heart, which nearly brought him from the chair to the ground; but, nevertheless, he still contained himself--"my governor's former lady, my own mother," continued Aby, "whom I never see'd, she'd gone to kingdom come, you know, before that time, Sir Thomas.

There hain't no doubt about that.

So you see--" and hereupon he dropped his voice from the tone which he had hitherto been using to an absolute whisper, and drawing his chair close to that of the baronet, and putting his hands upon his knees, brought his mouth close to his companion's ear--"So you see," he said, "when that youngster was born, Lady F.was Mrs.M .-- wasn't she?
and for the matter of that, Lady F.is Mrs.M.to this very hour.
That's the real chat; ain't it, Sir Thomas?
My stepmother, you know.
The governor could take her away with him to-morrow if he chose, according to the law of the land--couldn't he now ?" There was no piddling or peddling about this at any rate.