The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 86: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FREEMASON’S DAUGHTER. 17 feeling in him. Although out of employ these six weeks—curse him!—he won't steal. It’s quite un- natural! And a father too!” “Quite. Where does he live ?” “ On Shude Hill.” | ‘What sort of woman is his wife?’ demanded the officer. «A sharp, bustling body, who does not stand so much in awe of her husband as she pretends to do; for it’s one of Tim’s weaknesses, in addition to his crank about politics, to rule at home. He calls it patriarchal and such-like. The fool has queer ideas about the rights of man and such stuff—as if poor devils hike him had any rights.” ‘“‘T should think not,” said Marjoram. ‘Of course not.” “ Very well, that will do: make what further inquiries you can, and let me know the result in the morning.” With a wave of the hand, which Marjoram had copied from the presiding magistrate at quarter ses. sions, and which he intended to be very dignified, he dismissed his tool. As soon as the door of the office was closed, he muttered to himself: “It must be the wife. This fool must be honest, if Ben has nothing to allege against him. Yes, yes,” he added, rubbing his hands with an air of virtuous satis- faction, as he gradually seized the thread of conduct to be pursued ; ‘ It must be his wife!” COniiclooecl SS (SO