LIVENS. I've got no home, your Worship. I'm living from 'and to mouth. I 've got no work; and nothin' to keep them on. MAGISTRATE. How is that? LIVENS. [Ashamedly.] My wife, she broke my 'ome up, and pawned the things. MAGISTRATE. But what made you let her? LEVINS. Your Worship, I'd no chance to stop 'er, she did it when I was out lookin' for work. MAGISTRATE. Did you ill-treat her? LIVENS. [Emphatically.] I never raised my 'and to her in my life, your Worship. MAGISTRATE. Then what was it--did she drink? LIVENS. Yes, your Worship. MAGISTRATE. Was she loose in her behaviour? LIVENS. [In a low voice.] Yes, your Worship. MAGISTRATE. And where is she now? LIVENS. I don't know your Worship. She went off with a man, and after that I---- MAGISTRATE. Yes, yes. Who knows anything of her? [To the bald CONSTABLE.] Is she known here? RELIEVING OFFICER. Not in this district, your Worship; but I have ascertained that she is well known---- MAGISTRATE. Yes--yes; we'll stop at that. Now [To the Father] you say that she has broken up your home, and left these little girls. What provision can you make for them? You look a strong man. LIVENS. So I am, your Worship. I'm willin' enough to work, but for the life of me I can't get anything to do. MAGISTRATE. But have you tried? LIVENS. I've tried everything, your Worship--I 've tried my 'ardest. MAGISTRATE. Well, well---- [There is a silence.] RELIEVING OFFICER. If your Worship thinks it's a case, my people are willing to take them. MAGISTRATE. Yes, yes, I know; but I've no evidence that this man is not the proper guardian for his children. [He rises oval goes back to the fire.] RELIEVING OFFICER. The mother, your Worship, is able to get access to them. MAGISTRATE. Yes, yes; the mother, of course, is an improper person to have anything to do with them. [To the Father.] Well, now what do you say? LIVENS. Your Worship, I can only say that if I could get work I should be only too willing to provide for them. But what can I do, your Worship? Here I am obliged to live from 'and to mouth in these 'ere common lodging-houses. I 'm a strong man--I'm willing to work --I'm half as alive again as some of 'em--but you see, your Worship, my 'airs' turned a bit, owing to the fever--[Touches his hair]--and that's against me; and I don't seem to get a chance anyhow. MAGISTRATE. Yes-yes. [Slowly.] Well, I think it 's a case. [Staring his hardest at the little girls.] Now, are you willing that these little girls should be sent to a home. LIVENS. Yes, your Worship, I should be very willing. MAGISTRATE. Well, I'll remand them for a week. Bring them again to-day week; if I see no reason against it then, I 'll make an order. RELIEVING OFFICER. To-day week, your Worship.