I am a widow this seventeen year now, an' the divle a man or woman uvver seen me goin' to a public-house.

I seen women goin' a drinkin' widout a shift to their backs.

I dunno how the divvle they done it.

Begorra, I think, if I drunk a glass of ale just now, my two legs would fail from under me immadiately--I am that wake." The old woman was a little too censorious, I think.

There is no doubt that even people who are starving do drink a little sometimes.