“The children’s mine--every one o’ them. Takin’ children away from their father! that’s a fine thing to be backin’ up like this!” His eyes moved from side to side, like the eyes of an animal in pain, and his voice was hoarse as though a lump had risen in his throat. “Look ’ere! I’m fonder of them children than what people might think. I’ll never sleep again till I know where they are.” “How can I tell you where they are without telling you where their mother is?” “They’re mine--the law gives ’em to me. ’Oo are you to go against the law?” “We went over that just now.” “When she married me she took me for better or worse, didn’t she? Man an’ wife should settle their own affairs. They don’t want no one else to interfere with them!” “You want her back so that you can do what you like to her. Do you expect other people to help you to that?” “Look ’ere! D’you think it’s pleasant for me when I go into the pub to ’ave ’em talk about _my wife_ goin’ off on ’er own? D’you think I ’aven’t got enough to bear without that?” “You ought to have thought of that before you drove her to it.” “‘Oo says I drove ’er? Noos-bearin’, talkin’ about ’er, like what they are? She’s lost ’er honour; d’you think that’s pleasant for _me_?” “No.” “Well, then!” He came from between the handles of his barrow and stood on the edge of the pavement, and the movement of his shoulders was like the movement of a bull that is about to charge. “Look ’ere! She’s mine to do what I like with. I never injured any one that didn’t injure me; but any one that injures me’ll ’ave a funny piece o’ cake to cut, what ’e’ll never be able to swaller.” “Who is injuring you?” “An’ don’t you think I’m afraid o’ the police. Not all the police in the world won’t stop _me_!” “Well?” “You only listens to one side; if I was to tell you all I’d got against ’er----” “You beat her--and you ask me to help you find her?” “I’m arskin’ you the whereabouts o’ my children.” “It’s the same thing. Can’t you see that no decent man would tell you?” He plucked at his throat and stood silent, with a groping movement like a man suddenly realising that the darkness before him is not going to lift. “It’s all like a Secret Society to me! If I can’t get ’em back, I can’t bear meself.” “How can it be otherwise?” “You’re all on ’er side. She’s a disgrace, that’s what _she_ is, takin’ ’em away from their ’ome, takin’ ’em away from their father.” “She brought them into the world.” “When I find ’er, I’ll make _’er_ sorry she was ever brought into the world ’erself. I’ll let ’er know ’oo’s ’er master! She sha’n’t forget a second time! She’s mine, and the children’s mine!” “Well, I can’t help you.” “I stands on the law. The law gives ’em to me, and I’ll keep ’em. She knows better than to go to the Court against me--it means ’er last sleep.” “Good-morning!” He plucked at his neck again and ground the sole of his boot on the pavement, and the movement of his eyes was pitiful to see.