Thomas Hardy

“ And a few hours would settle the question of her mother's identity; for he had arranged in his note to see her that evening.
"It never rains but it pours!" said Henchard. His keenly excited interest in his new friend the Scotchman was now eclipsed by this event, and Donald Farfrae saw so little of him during the rest of the day that he wondered at the suddenness of his employer's moods.
In the meantime Elizabeth had reached the inn. Her mother, instead of taking the note with the curiosity of a poor woman expecting assistance, was much moved at sight of it. ”

“ Henchard winced at the word "father," thus applied. "Do you and she come from abroad—America or Australia?" he asked.
"No. We have been in England some years. I was twelve when we came here from Canada." ”