Go on now, afore I put up my 'ands to you."
"That's the way to talk to 'im," ses the pot-man, nodding at 'em.
They all began to talk to me then and tell me wot I was to do, and wot
they would do if I didn't. I couldn't get a word in edgeways. When I
reminded the mate that when he was up in London 'e always passed himself
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.
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