The missus, she ses, "But
Marryun, my pore dear, it's no use lovin' 'im. 'E ses to me 'is very
self the other day, 'e ses, 'Sooner than get married I'd go and dwell
in the wilderness, I'd go to Tibbet, be an 'ermit in a cave, give up
baccy, and give away every farthin' I 'ad in the world.'"'
A feeling of acute horror swept over me. With a crash my favourite
pipe fell from my nerveless fingers and was smashed to atoms on the
fender. There was truth in the girl's fantastic story after all. I
recalled using such expressions as those when, a little time before, I
was discussing conjugal difficulties in a talk with Mrs. Warrington.
Obviously the girl could not have made the thing up. I passed my hand
wildly across my brow. 'But what have I done that she should fall in
love with me? What is there about me to attract any woman?'
'Nothink, as I can see,' she retorted, 'but with a woman's heart
there's no knowin' an' there's no tellin'. P'raps you've managed to
throw dust in her eyes.'
'I have thrown nothing--I mean, Miss Warrington and I are only slightly
acquainted with each other. I have, indeed, barely noticed her. And
now you tell me this horrible thing.'
She bridled. 'Wot's 'orrible about it? You ought to be glad. Most
men would be proud to marry a young lady 'oo's got such a light 'and
for pastry, and can mend up an old pair o' pants to make 'em look like
new.
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