"She sent Teddy over at ten o'clock last night to rub my chest with a bottle o' liniment, and it's no good me saying I'm all right when she's been spending eighteen-pence o' good money over the stuff." "She can't marry you unless you ask her," said the comforter.
Mr.Wilks shook his head.

"People in the alley are beginning to talk," he said, dolefully.

"Just as I came in this afternoon old George Lee screwed up one eye at two or three women wot was gossiping near, and when I asked 'im wot 'e'd got to wink about he said that a bit o' wedding-cake 'ad blowed in his eye as I passed.

It sent them silly creeturs into fits a'most." [Illustration: "He said that a bit o' wedding-cake 'ad blowed in his eye."] "They'll soon get tired of it," said Hardy.
Mr.Wilks, still gloomy, ventured to doubt it, but cheered up and became almost bright when his visitor announced his intention of trying to smooth over matters for him at Equator Lodge.

He became quite voluble in his defence, and attached much importance to the fact that he had nursed Miss Nugent when she was in long clothes and had taught her to whistle like an angel at the age of five.
"I've felt being cut adrift by her more than anything," he said, brokenly.