"'Come along, Alfred,' ses the gal, 'else the cook'll be back before we
start.'

"'He's all right,' ses the young man. 'Minnie's looking arter him.
When I left he'd got 'arf a bottle of whisky in front of 'im.'

"'Still, we may as well go,' ses Miss Butt. 'It seems a shame to keep
the cab waiting.'

"'All right,' he ses. 'I just want to give this old chump one more lick
with the mop and then we'll go.'

"He peeped down the skylight and waited, but I kept quite quiet, with my
back towards 'im.

"'Come along,' ses Miss Butt.

"'I'm coming,' he ses. 'Hi! You down there! When the cap'n comes back
tell 'im that I'm taking Miss Butt to an aunt o' mine in the country.
And tell'im that in a week or two he'll 'ave the largest and nicest
piece of wedding-cake he 'as ever 'ad in his life. So long!'

"'Good-bye, watchman,' ses the gal.

"They moved off without another word--from them, I mean. I heard the
wicket slam and then I 'eard a cab drive off over the stones. I
couldn't believe it at first. I couldn't believe a gal with such
beautiful blue eyes could be so hard-'earted, and for a long time I
stood listening and hoping to 'ear the cab come back. Then I stepped up
to the companion and tried to shift it with my shoulders.