that's my motter."

"'I don't know wot you're talking about,' I ses, 'but it don't matter
anyways. I've got a clear conscience; that's the main thing. I'm as
open as the day, and there's nothing about me that I'd mind anybody
knowing. Wot a pity it is everybody can't say the same!'

"I didn't see 'im saying 'Good-bye' the next week or the week arter that
either, but the third week, arter just calling in at the Bear's Head, I
strolled on casual-like and got as far as the bottom of Tower Hill afore
I remembered myself. Turning the corner, I a'most fell over the skipper,
wot was right in the fair way, shaking 'ands with his lady-friend under
the lamp-post. Both of 'em started, and I couldn't make up my mind which
gave me the most unpleasant look.

"'Peep-bo!' I ses, cheerful-like.

"He stood making a gobbling noise at me, like a turkey.

"'Give me quite a start, you did,' I ses. 'I didn't dream of you being
there.'

"'Get off!' he ses, spluttering. 'Get off, afore I tear you limb from
limb! 'Ow dare you follow me about and come spying round corners at me?
Wot d'ye mean by it?'

"I stood there with my arms folded acrost my chest, as calm as a
cucumber. The other party stood there watching us, and wot 'e could 'ave
seen in her, I can't think. She was dressed more like a man than a
woman, and it would have taken the good looks of twenty like her to 'ave