"And as for you," she ses, turning to the woman, "if you did marry 'im
you should ha' made sure that he 'adn't got a wife already."

"He married me fust," ses the woman.

"When?" ses my wife. "Wot was the date?"

"Wot was the date you married 'im?" ses the other one.

They stood looking at each other like a couple o' game-cocks, and I could
see as plain as a pike-staff 'ow frightened both of 'em was o' losing me.

"Look here!" I ses at last, to my missus, "talk sense. 'Ow could I be
married to 'er? When I was at sea I was at sea, and when I was ashore I
was with you."

"Did you use to go down to the ship to see 'im off?" ses the woman.

"No," ses my wife. "I'd something better to do."

"Neither did I," ses the woman. "P'raps that's where we both made a
mistake."

"You get out of my 'ouse!" ses my missus, very sudden. "Go on, afore I
put you out."

"Not without my Bill," ses the woman. "If you lay a finger on me I'll
scream the house down."

"You brought her 'ere," ses my wife, turning to me, "now you can take 'er