"And mine, 'e's a 'eavy, full-bodied build o' man. And so I says to 'im—but what's the good o' sayin' anythink to 'im. The long and the short o' it is, Doctor, as 'e's took to the water 'abit.
"I meantosay," continued Mrs. Skelp, having marked the doctor's grin, "I meantosay as 'e's sworn off 'is licker.
"'E's a great reader is mine, you see. 'E sets up in bed for hours o' a Sunday morning and gets through as much as three-pennyworth o' papers at a setting. Not that I 'olds with so much readin', mind you. 'Moody boys an' readin' gals,' we used to say—well, you know the rest, Doctor. It's a thankless 'abit.
"But, at the same time, mind you, I believe in the notion that Sunday is a day of rest. A man's 'ouse is 'is own of a Sunday, I always say. And so I ain't never raised no objections to mine amusin' 'isself; and I can't say that no 'arm 'as ever come of my good nature. Not till now. But now we see the fruits of it.
"You see, Doctor, 'e's bin reading up the subject o' his vitals. And the long and short of it is as 'e's took to what 'e calls 'is nature treatment. Not a tea-cup full o' beer will 'e 'ave inside the 'ouse, Doctor. Not a spoonful. It's water—water, always water. That an' cocoa. Fancy a drayman drinking cocoa, Doctor!"
"Cocoa is a very wholesome drink," asserted the doctor.
"For supper—yes," assented Mrs. Skelp. "I agree with you there, Doctor. But 'ooever 'eard of cocoa for breakfast and water for dinner and water for tea? And not a drop of beer from one week's end to the other? Fancy a drayman without 'is beer, Doctor!"
"He is probably much better without it," suggested Dr. Brink.
"Better without it?" echoed the visitor. "Without beer? A drayman? Workin' ten an' twelve hours on the stretch? You live with 'im, Doctor, and see if 'e's better without it ... Not that I wish you no 'arm."
"And what," said the doctor, looking earnestly at his watch, "and—er—what——"