Page:English laws for women in the nineteenth century.djvu/61

49 My humbler destiny was not so easily set right. Previous to the trial, I had been strenuously urged, by some of the truest friends I had, to be beforehand with Mr Norton; and, knowing what my home had been, to attempt to divorce Mm while he was preparing to accuse me. Others, equally anxious for my welfare, earnestly counselled the exact contrary: to wait,—to have patience,—to depend on the truth being shown on the trial, and my justification being then made complete. The case being submitted to Dr Lushington, he advised that I should remain passive, and I did so; sore against my will.

After the trial was over, I consulted whether a divorce " by reason of cruelty" might not be pleaded for me; and I laid before my lawyers the many instances of violence, injustice, and ill-usage, of which the trial was but the crowning example. I was then told that no divorce I could obtain would break my marriage; that I could not plead cruelty which I had forgiven; that by returning to Mr Norton I had "condoned" all I complained of. I learnt, too, the as to my children—that the right was with the father; that neither my innocence nor his guilt could alter it; that not even his giving them into the hands of a mistress, would give me any claim to their custody. The eldest was but six years old, the second four, the youngest two and a half, when we were parted. I wrote, therefore, and petitioned the father and husband, in whose power I was, for leave to see them—for leave to keep them, till they were a little older. Mr Norton's answer was, that I should not have them; that if I wanted to see them, I might have an interview with them at the chambers of his attorney. I refused, and wrote as follows to my solicitor, who had conveyed his decision to me:—

"However bitter it may he to me, I must decline seeing my children in the manner proposed. I say nothing of the harshness, the inhumanity of telling me I must either see them at the