'"I shouldn't do that, sir, if I was you," I ses, "leastways not yet
until you see 'ow things turns out, like."

'"I'm goin' to lead a better life," 'e goes on, "an' stop puttin' baccy
ash in my pocket, an' dustin' my boots with my handkercher, an' all
those little things that a gentle woman might find careless."'

'Elizabeth,' I put in weakly, 'this is terrible. I do not want Mr.
Rawlings to make any sacrifices for me. I do not want Mr. Rawlings.
Nothing in the world would make me consider his suit.'

''Is suit's all right if it were well brushed an' pressed,' she said.
'An if 'e isn't quite a fancy style 'isself we can't all pick an'
choose in this world. Don't go despisin' of 'im too much, miss. If 'e
was properly done up, now, and sort o' dusted an' polished, like, 'e
mightn't be so bad.'

I turned on her with burning indignation. 'How dare you openly assist
his plans after confessing to taking his money as a bribe? Don't
mention his name to me again, or I shall refuse to listen to you.'

She actually had the impertinence to look indignant. 'It's shame I cry
on you, miss, for tryin' to break the pore man's 'eart. Then I s'pose
I can't give 'im that there fotograft of you?'

'My photograph! Of all the unspeakable----'

'It was with 'im sayin' that if 'e only 'ad it to look at it might 'elp
to parss all the dark 'ours 'e 'as to spend away from you. 'E sed 'e
wanted it to look at wen 'e was lyin' awake at night, thinkin' of you.'