bin an' give up me bits o' sticks to a neighbour, an' got a place, an'
went into service. I sneaked out one night, when Elbert 'ad gone 'ome. I
got a place up Kilburn way, an ol' couple, retired from the pawnbrokin'
line. The ol' man 'ad softening in 'is brain, an' said one thing all the
blessed time, murmurin' like a bee. The ol' woman never spoke, never did
no work, lef' it all to me. She was always a-readin' of 'er postcard
album, shiftin' the cards about--she 'ad thousands, besides one 'ole
book full of seaside comics. A beautiful collection. Well, I was dishin'
up the tea one night in the kitchen, an' I 'eard a laugh--Elbert's
laugh, like three little bells--an' there was Elbert lookin' in at the
window. I run after 'im--there wasn't nobody there. When I come back the
tripe was burnt an' I lef' it on the fire an' run away, thet minute.
They owed me wages, but I didn't stop for nothink. I was frightened. I
got a place afterwards up Islington, three ol' sisters, kep' a fancy
shop, fought with each other every minute of their lives. I 'adn't bin
there two days before Elbert walked in, jest as laughin' an' lovin' as
ever. I see then it was no use, good or bad 'e'd got me. I let 'im sit
in my kitchen, an' give 'im some sugar-bread. An' one of the ol'
cat-sisters come in. ''Oo's this?' she ses. 'A young friend o' mine,' I
ses. 'You're a liar,' she ses, 'I seed from the first minute as you
wasn't no respectable gal,' she ses, 'an' now per'aps me sisters'll
believe me. So out I 'ad to go, an' I wasn't sorry. It seemed like there
wasn't nothink in the world mattered but Elbert, like as if damnation
was worth while. 'Ow, Elbert,' I ses, 'I'd go to the Devil for you, an'
smile all the way.' 'E laughed an' laughed. 'Come on,' 'e ses, 'to-day's
an 'oliday.' Though it wasn't, it was a Tuesday in August. 'Come on,' 'e
ses, 'get yer best 'at on,' an' 'e gives me a yaller rose, for me
button-'ole. A year ago come August, thet was. I follered Elbert at a
run all up the City Road, an' near the Angel we took a taxi. 'Tell 'im
Euston Station,' ses Elbert, an' so I did. You know the 'uge top o' thet