off as a single man, 'e wouldn't listen; and when I asked the skipper
whether 'is pore missus was blind, he on'y went on shouting at the top of
'is voice. It on'y showed me 'ow anxious most people are that everybody
else should be good.

I thought they was never going to stop, and, if it 'adn't been for a fit
of coughing, I don't believe that the scraggy little woman could ha'
stopped. Arter one o' the draymen 'ad saved her life and spoilt 'er
temper by patting 'er on the back with a hand the size of a leg o'
mutton, the carman turned to me and told me to tell the truth, if it
choked me.

"I have told you the truth," I ses. "She ses I'm her 'usband and I say I
ain't. Ow's she going to prove it? Why should you believe her, and not
me?"

"She's got a truthful face," ses the carman.

"Look here!" ses the skipper, speaking very slow, "I've got an idea,
wot'll settle it p'raps. You get outside," he ses, turning sharp on the
two little boys.

One o' the draymen 'elped 'em to go out, and 'arf a minute arterwards a
stone came over the gate and cut the potman's lip open. Boys will be
boys.

"Now!" ses the skipper, turning to the woman, and smiling with
conceitedness. "Had your 'usband got any marks on 'im? Birth-mark, or
moles, or anything of that sort?"