Cook and Emma could do 'e wouldn't tell them wot was the matter with 'im.
He said 'e didn't want to worry other people with 'is troubles; let
everybody bear their own, that was 'is motto. Even when George Smith
offered to go to the theayter with Emma instead of 'im he didn't fire up,
and, if it 'adn't ha' been for Mrs. Cook, George wouldn't ha' been sorry
that 'e spoke.

"Theayters ain't for me," ses Charlie, with a groan. "I'm more likely to
go to gaol, so far as I can see, than a theayter."

Mrs. Cook and Emma both screamed and Sarah Ann did 'er first
highstericks, and very well, too, considering that she 'ad only just
turned fifteen.

"Gaol!" ses old Cook, as soon as they 'ad quieted Sarah Ann with a bowl
o' cold water that young Bill 'ad the presence o' mind to go and fetch.
"Gaol! What for?"

"You wouldn't believe if I was to tell you." ses Charlie, getting up to
go, "and besides, I don't want any of you to think as 'ow I am worse than
wot I am."

He shook his 'cad at them sorrowful-like, and afore they could stop 'im
he 'ad gone. Old Cook shouted arter 'im, but it was no use, and the
others was running into the scullery to fill the bowl agin for Emma.

Mrs. Cook went round to 'is lodgings next morning, but found that 'e was
out. They began to fancy all sorts o' things then, but Charlie turned up
agin that evening more miserable than ever.