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The woman looked at Ursula with her pale, dead eyes

"No," replied the girl, "I did not know"

She stood still with repulsion and uncertainty Mr Harby,

large and ht, ugly smile at the corner of his eyes The woman went on

insidiously, not quite human: "Oh, yes, he has had heart disease ever since he was a child

That is why he isn't very regular at school And it is very bad

to beat hi--I shall call

on the doctor as I go back"

"Who is staying with him now, then?" put in the deep voice of

the schoolly

"Oh, I left him with a woman who comes in to help

me--and who understands him But I shall call in the doctor

on ue threats in all this But

the woe to her, that she did not

understand

"He told me he had been beaten," continued the woman, "and

when I undressed him to put him to bed, his body was covered

with marks--I could show them to any doctor"

Mr Harby looked at Ursula to answer She began to

understand The woe of

assault on her son against her Perhaps she wanted money

"I caned him," she said "He was so much trouble"