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
to come 'ome to me and my five. Why, he's never seen the youngest,
little Annie. She's as like 'im as two peas."

"Pore little devil," ses the carman.

"Look here!" I ses, "you clear off. All of you. 'Ow dare you come on to
my wharf? If you aren't gone in two minutes I'll give you all in
charge."

"Who to?" ses one of the draymen, sticking his face into mine. "You go
'ome to your wife and kids. Go on now, afore I put up my 'ands to you."

"That's the way to talk to 'im," ses the pot-man, nodding at 'em.

They all began to talk to me then and tell me wot I was to do, and wot
they would do if I didn't. I couldn't get a word in edgeways. When I
reminded the mate that when he was up in London 'e always passed himself