His first question was about the children’s names and their friends, and this led to the despatching of a message to the mother and aunt.  He then inquired about the terms on which they had been placed at St. Norbert’s, and Rachel, who was obliged to reply, felt under his clear, stringent questions, keeping close to the point, a good deal more respect for his powers than she had hitherto entertained.  That dry way of his was rather overwhelming.  When it came to the children themselves, Rachel watched, not without a hope that the clear masculine intellect would detect Fanny in a more frightened woman’s fancy, and bring the F. U. E. E. off with flying colours.

Little Mary Morris stood forth valiant and excited.  She was eleven years old, and intelligent enough to make it evident that she knew what she was about.  The replies were full.  The blows were described, with terrible detail of the occasions and implements.  Still Rachel remembered the accusation of Mary’s truth.  She tried to doubt.

“I saw her with a bruised eye,” said the Colonel’s unexpected voice in a pause.  “How was that?”

“Please, sir, Mrs. Rawlins hit me with her fist because I had only done seven sprigs.  She knocked me down, and I did not come to for ever so long.”

And not only this, and the like sad narratives, but each child bore the marks in corroboration of the words, which were more reluctant and more hoarse from Lovedy, but even more effective.  Rachel doubted no more after the piteous sight of those scarred shoulders, and the pinched feeble face; but one thing was plain, namely, that Mr. Mauleverer had no share in the cruelties.  Even such severities as had been perpetrated while he was in the house, had, Mary thought, been protested against by him, but she had seldom seen him, he paid all his visits in the little parlour, and took no notice of the children except to prepare the tableau for public inspection.  Mr. Grey, looking at his notes, said that there was full evidence to justify issuing a summons against the woman for assaulting the children, and proceeded to ask her name.  Then while there was a question whether her Christian name was known, the Colonel again said, “I believe her name to be Maria Hatherton.  Miss Williams has recognised her as a servant who once lived in her family, and who came from her father’s parish at Beauchamp.”

Alison on inquiry corroborated the statement, and the charge was made against Maria Rawlins, alias Hatherton.  The depositions were read over to the children, and signed by them; with very trembling fingers by poor little Lovedy, and Mr. Grey said he would send a policeman with the summons early next day.

“But, Mr. Grey,” burst out Mrs. Curtis, “you don’t mean that you are not going to do anything to that man!  Why he has been worse than the woman!  It was he that entrapped the poor children, and my poor Rachel here, with his stories of magazines and illustrations, and I don’t know what all!”