Relieving Officer!

     [The relieving officer Steps into the witness-box.]

Usher.  The evidence you give to the Court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God!  Kiss the book!

     [The book is kissed.]

Relieving officer. [In a monotone, pausing slightly at each sentence end, that his evidence may be inscribed.] About ten o’clock this morning, your Worship, I found these two little girls in Blue Street, Fulham, crying outside a public-house.  Asked where their home was, they said they had no home.  Mother had gone away.  Asked about their father.  Their father had no work.  Asked where they slept last night.  At their aunt’s.  I ’ve made inquiries, your Worship.  The wife has broken up the home and gone on the streets.  The husband is out of work and living in common lodging-houses.  The husband’s sister has eight children of her own, and says she can’t afford to keep these little girls any longer.

Magistrate. [Returning to his seat beneath the canopy of justice.] Now, let me see.  You say the mother is on the streets; what evidence have you of that?

Relieving officer.  I have the husband here, your Worship.

Magistrate.  Very well; then let us see him.

[There are cries of “Livens.”  The magistrate leans forward, and stares with hard compassion at the little girls.  Livens comes in.  He is quiet, with grizzled hair, and a muffler for a collar.  He stands beside the witness-box.]

And you, are their father?  Now, why don’t you keep your little girls at home.  How is it you leave them to wander about the streets like this?

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——­