"Look 'ere," ses Emma. "You may as well know first as last--Sophy 'as
got a young man."

"O' course she 'as," ses Charlie. "Twenty-seven on the second of next
January, he is; same as me."

"She's going to be married," ses Emma, very solemn.

"Yes, to me," ses Charlie, pretending to be surprised. "Didn't you know
that?"

He looked so pleased with 'imself at his cleverness that Emma arf put up
her 'and, and then she thought better of it and turned away.

"He's just doing it to get rid of you," she ses to Mrs. Jennings, "and if
you give way you're a bigger silly than I took you for. Let 'im go on
and 'ave his own way, and tell your intended about 'im when you see 'im.
Arter all, you started it."

"I was only 'aving a bit o' fun," ses Mrs. Jennings.

"Well, so is he," ses Emma.

"Not me!" ses Charlie, turning his eyes up. "I'm in dead earnest; and so
is she. It's only shyness on 'er part; it'll soon wear off."

He took 'old of Mrs. Jennings's arm agin and began to tell 'er 'ow lonely
'is life was afore she came acrost his path like an angel that had lost
its way. And he went on like that till she told Emma that she'd either
'ave to go off 'ome or scream. Ted interfered agin then, and, arter