het'swotthedoctoratthe'orspitalsaysterme.I'adtergoterthe'orspital.Youshouldhaveseen'owitbled!—itbledalldahn'myfice,andwentstreamin'likeabustwaterpipe.Well,itfairfrightenedmyoldman,an'Isayster'im,"I'llchargeyer,"an'althoughIwasbleedin'likeabloomin'pigIshookmyfistat'im,an'Isays,"I'llchargeye—seeifIdon't!"An''esays,"Na,"says'e,"don'tdothet,forGod'ssike,Kitie,I'llgitthreemonths.""An'serveyerdamnwellright!"saysI,an'Iwentahtan'left'im.But,Lor'blessyer,Iwouldn'tcharge'im!Iknow'edon'tmeanit'e'sasgentleasalambwhen'e'ssober.'Shesmiledquiteaffectionatelyasshesaidthis.
'Wotdidyerdo,then?'askedLiza.
'Well,asIwostellin'yer,Iwenttothe'orspital,an'thedoctor'esaystome,"Mygoodwoman,"says'e,"youmighthavebeenveryseriouslyinjured."An'menotbeenmarriedeighteenmonths!An'asIwastellin'thedoctorallaboutit,"Missus,"'esaysterme,lookin'atmestraightintheeyeball."Missus,"says'e,"'aveyoubeendrinkin'?""Drinkin'?"saysI"no!I've'adalittledrop,butasfordrinkin'!Mind,"saysI,"Idon'tsayI'mateetotaller—I'mnot,I'avemyglassofbeer,andIlikeit.Icouldn'tdowithahtit,wotwiththeworkI'ave,Imust'avesomethin'terkeepmetergether.Butasfordrinkin''eavily!Well!Icansaythis,thereain'tasobererwomanthanmyselfinallLondon.Why,myfirst'usbandnevertouchedadrop.Ah,myfirst'usband,'ewasabeauty,'ewas."'
ShestoppedtherepetitionofherconversationandaddressedherselftoLiza.
''Ewasthetdifferentterthisone.'Ewasamanas'adseenbetterdays.'Ewasagentleman!'Shemouthedthewordandemphasizeditwithanexpressivenod.
''EwasagentlemanandaChristian.'E'dbeeningoodcircumstancesin'istimean''ewasamanofeducationandateetotaller,fortwenty-twoyears.'
AtthatmomentLiza'smotherappearedonthescene.
'Goodevenin',Mrs.Stanley,'shesaid,politely.
'Thesimeteryou,Mrs.Kemp.'repliedthatlady,withequalcourtesy.
'An''owisyourpoor'ead?'askedLiza'smother,withsympathy.
'Oh,it'sbeenachin'cruel.I'vehardlyknownwotterdowithmyself.'
'I'msure'eoughtterbeashime