"I sha'n't stay at 'ome for fifty dear friends," ses Charlie.

"Have it your own way," ses Emma. "If you come, Sophy Jennings comes,
that's all."

She was as good as 'er word, too, and next night when they turned up they
found Emma and 'er friend waiting for them. Charlie thought it was the
friend's mother at fust, but he found out arterwards that she was a
widder-woman. She had 'ad two husbands, and both of 'em 'ad passed away
with a smile on their face. She seemed to take a fancy to Charlie the
moment she set eyes on 'im, and two or three times, they'd 'ave lost Ted
and Emma if it hadn't been for 'im.

[Illustration: "When they turned up they found Emma and 'er friend
waiting for them."]

They did lose 'em the next night, and Charlie Brice 'ad Mrs. Jennings all
alone to himself for over a couple of hours walking up and down the
Commercial Road talking about the weather; Charles saying 'ow wet and
cold it, was, and thinking p'r'aps they 'ad better go off 'ome afore she
got a chill.

He complained to Ted about it when 'e got 'ome, and Ted promised as it
shouldn't 'appen agin. He said that 'im and Emma 'ad been so busy
talking about getting married that he 'ad forgotten to keep an eye on
him.

"Married!" ses Charlie, very upset. "Married! And wot's to become o'
me?"