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.