"Very often the wife is better off," said his friend. "It's one mouth
less for her to feed. Besides, she gen'rally gets something. When pore
old Bill went they 'ad a Friendly Lead at the 'King's Head' and got his
missis pretty nearly seventeen pounds."

"And I believe we'd get more than that for your old woman," said Mr.
Kidd. "There's no kids, and she could keep 'erself easy. Not that I
want to encourage you to make away with yourself."

Mr. Gibbs scowled and, tilting his mug, peered gloomily into the
interior.

"Joe won't make no 'ole in the water," said Mr. Brown, wagging his head.
"If it was beer, now--"

Mr. Gibbs turned and, drawing himself up to five feet three, surveyed the
speaker with an offensive stare.

"I don't see why he need make a 'ole in anything," said Mr. Kidd, slowly.
"It 'ud do just as well if we said he 'ad. Then we could pass the hat
round and share it."

"Divide it into three halves and each 'ave one," said Mr. Brown, nodding;
"but 'ow is it to be done?"

"'Ave some more beer and think it over," said Mr. Kidd, pale with
excitement. "Three pints, please."

He and Mr. Brown took up their pints, and nodded at each other. Mr.