between slum and gaol!

'We're not likely to see much of each other after to-night,' said
Sidney, stopping.

'The less the better, I should say, if this is how you're going to
talk to me.'

'The less the better, perhaps--at all events for a time. But
there's one or two things on my mind, and I'll say them now. I don't
know whether you think anything about it, but you must have seen
that things are getting worse and worse at home. Your mother--'

'She's no mother of mine!' broke in Clara angrily.

'She's been a mother to you in kindness, that's certain, and you've
repaid her almost as ill as you could have done. Another girl would
have made her hard life a bit easier. No; you've only thought of
yourself. Your father walks about day after day trying to get work,
and how do you meet him when he comes home? You fret him and anger
him; you throw him back ill-tempered words when he happens to think
different from you; you almost break his heart, because you won't
give way in things that he only means for your good--he that would
give his life for you! It's as well you should hear the truth for
once, and hear it from me, too. Anyone else might speak from all
sorts of motives; as for me, it makes me suffer more to say such
things than it ever could you to hear them. Laugh if you like! I
don't ask you to pay any heed to what _I_'ve wished and hoped; but
just give a thought to your father, and the rest of them at home. I
told him to-night he'd only to trust you, that you never could do