Life
perchance is not all dust and ashes nor the world a pit of noisome
gloom; some day even I may learn perhaps to be--almost happy--"
"Lord, sir, you sound as if you'd been crossed an' double-crossed in
love, you do--"
"Ah--what do you mean?"
"No offence, sir! But y' see, I were in love once--ah, an' with a
sweet purty lass an' she wi' me, but afore I could marry 'er she
bolted along of a circus cove in a scarlet, laced coat an' whip, d'ye
see."
"Extremely feminine!" said I, nodding.
"May be, sir, but one day she come creepin' back to me, very
'eart-broke an' shameful, pore lass; seems the circus cove, growin'
tired-like, 'ad took to usin' 'is whip on 'er--an' so she come
a-creepin' back to me."
"And what then?"
"Why, then, o' course I married 'er."
"Married her! But after--the disgrace--"
"There weren't no disgrace; I married 'er! Y' see, I loved 'er purty
looks an' gentle ways."
"And you--married her--notwithstanding! You forgave her!"
"Aye, I did--years an' years ago! Ah, an' a danged good little wife
she's been too--ah, an' mother--none better."
"Have you many children?"
"Nine!"
"And you feed them all?"
"Every one--an' very frequent, bless their little 'earts."
"And clothe them?"
"As well as I can, sir, though their clo'es gets uncommon wore an'
'oley, 'igh an' low--specially low, sir!"
"You provide a roof to shelter them?"
"Aye--such as it is--needs re-thatchin' bad.
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