'E took it into 'is 'and, and 'e give me a very straight look, and says 'e, frowning, 'Well, she'll never want any more of that.' And 'e just took it straight downstairs and emptied the bottle into the sink." "He knew!" exclaimed Olga involuntarily.
"Lor' bless yer, no!" Mrs.Briggs's tone held unquestioning conviction.
"'E was frownin' to 'isself all the time, and I could see as 'e was pretty mad that 'e'd come too late.

I weren't sorry myself," she asserted boldly.

"For I'd 'oped against 'ope after 'is last visit that 'e'd never see pore mother again alive.

I couldn't 'a' stood it! There, I just couldn't." Quite unexpectedly Mrs.Briggs suddenly broke down and dropped into a chair.

Violet sprang to comfort, while Olga took possession of the rolling-pin and continued the pastry-making with deft hands.
After an interval poor Mrs.Briggs managed to recover somewhat of the hard demeanour that usually characterized her.