Charlie went cold all over.

"Treat me well and I treat other people well," ses Mrs. Jennings. "I
can't say fairer than that, can I?"

Charlie said "Nobody could," and then 'e walked along with her hanging on
to 'is arm, arf wondering whether it would be wrong to shove 'er under a
bus that was passing, and arf wondering whether 'e could do it if it
wasn't.

"As for Emma saying she won't 'ave you for a lodger," ses Mrs. Jennings,
"let 'er wait till she's asked. She'll wait a long time if I 'ave my
say."

Charlie didn't answer her. He walked along with 'is mouth shut, his idea
being that the least said the soonest mended. Even Emma asked 'im at
last whether he 'ad lost 'is tongue, and said it was curious 'ow
different love took different people.

He talked fast enough going 'ome with Ted though, and pretty near lost
'is temper with 'im when Ted asked 'im why he didn't tell Mrs. Jennings
straight that she 'ad made a mistake.

"She knows well enough," he says, grinding 'is teeth; "she was just
trying it on. That's 'ow it is widders get married agin. You'll 'ave to
choose between going out with me or Emma, Ted. I can't face Mrs.
Jennings again. I didn't think anybody could 'ave parted us like that."

Ted said it was all nonsense, but it was no good, and the next night he