Singing to herself, the crazed girl sauntered off. Several of the
market women looked after her.
"She killed her child, they say," muttered the old vegetable-seller-
-"But no one knows--"
"Sh--sh--sh!" hissed Martine angrily--"What one does not know one
should not say. Mayhap there never was a child at all. Whatever the
wrong was, she has suffered for it;--and if the man who led her
astray ever comes nigh her, his life is not worth a centime."
"Rough justice!" said one of the market porters, who had just paused
close by to light his pipe.
"Aye, rough justice!" echoed Martine--"When justice is not given to
the people, the people take it for themselves! And if a man deals
ill by a woman, he has murdered her as surely as if he had put a
knife through her;--and 'tis but even payment when he gets the knife
into himself. Things in this life are too easy for men and too hard
for women; men make the laws for their own convenience, and never a
thought of us at all in the making. They are a selfish lot!"
The porter laughed carelessly, and having lit his pipe to his
satisfaction went his way.
A great many more customers now came to Martine's stall, and for
upwards of an hour there was shrill argument and driving of bargains
till she had pretty well cleared her counter of all its stock.
Pages:
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130