He called to his mother and went upstairs. Then, while he was absent, the thin and slatternly woman known as Eliza Screech shuffled in and put chairs for the Bowdens. She stood and rubbed her hands over each other and listened to the noise her son made overhead. By certain sounds she knew how his change of attire advanced. "I hope you are on our side in this matter, ma’am," began Elias, solemnly. "Yes, I am, and always have been since I heard about it," she said. "I’ve been at him night and day till he threatened to take the wood-chopper to me. I can’t say what he thinks about it, for not a word will he utter. He’s always chuckling to hisself, however. ’Tis a very shameless thing to have happened, though very common. I’m sorry about it." She spoke kindly but indifferently. "My girl is the same as him," declared Mr. Bowden. "’Shameless’ is the only word to be used against her--a hardened giglet as keeps her own secrets and did keep ’em till they would out. And, instead of going in tears and sackcloth, she’s as gay as a lark and don’t care a button for our long faces. Even to church she’ll come, if you can believe it. And not a word of sorrow." Mrs. Screech heard her son putting on his boots. "Well, I hope that your way of saying things will catch hold on William," she answered. "He’s a thoughtless man; but he was never fond of the girls till he met your Dorcas, and ’twas a very great blow to him he couldn’t take her." "He must take her: that’s what we’ve come about," declared David. Mrs. Screech shrugged her shoulders. "There’s room here," she said, "and though us be a little down in the world, I daresay for a pound or two we could mend up the glass and make things vitty for Dorcas. I’m very fond of her, I may tell you. Here’s William coming down, so I’ll go." She left them, and a moment later Mr. Screech entered transformed. He wore excellent black. He had brushed his hair and beard; he had washed his hands and put on a pair of tidy boots. "Now," he said, "perhaps you’ll let me know what I can do for you, Mr. Bowden. Not long since there was a thing as you might have done for me; but I got a very sour answer, if I remember right. However, you’ll find me more reasonable if you come in reason." "In reason and in right I come, William Screech. And well you know why for I’m here," said the master of Ditsworthy. "You’ve seduced my daughter Dorcas, and you cannot deny it." "Yes, I can," answered Mr. Screech. "I can deny it and I can take my Bible oath of it. I never seduced her, and I never even offered to. I’ll swear she never told you that I seduced her." "She’ll tell me nought." "Then why d’you charge it against me?" "Don’t fiddle with words," broke in David. "The question be simple, and the answer be ’yes’ or ’no.’ Do you deny that you are the father of the child she’m going to bear?" "Certainly not. I am the parent; and a very proud man I shall be on the day."