could make out, there was quite a crowd outside, and I stood there with
the key in the lock, trembling all over. Then I unlocked it very
careful, and put my hand on the skipper's arm.

"Nip out quick," I ses, in a whisper.

"I'm in no hurry," ses the skipper. "Here! Halloa, wot's up?"

It was like opening the door at a theatre, and the fust one through was
that woman, shoved behind by the potman. Arter 'im came a car-man, two
big 'ulking brewers' draymen, a little scrap of a woman with 'er bonnet
cocked over one eye, and a couple of dirty little boys.

"Wot is it?" ses the skipper, shutting the wicket behind 'em. "A
beanfeast?"

"This lady wants her 'usband," ses the pot-man, pointing at me. "He run
away from her nine years ago, and now he says he 'as never seen 'er
before. He ought to be 'ung."

"Bill," ses the skipper, shaking his silly 'ead at me. "I can 'ardly
believe it."

"It's all a pack o' silly lies," I ses, firing up. "She's made a
mistake."

"She made a mistake when she married you," ses the thin little woman.
"If I was in 'er shoes I'd take 'old of you and tear you limb from limb."

"I don't want to hurt 'im, ma'am," ses the other woman. "I on'y want him