He went home that evening in a daze.
Of course the old woman quickly saw that something was wrong, and began to ask questions.
"No, and I'm not sick at all. They're after dischargin' me down at the docks. I've recaved me notice for next month. I knowed it would come. Sure I towld ye the furrst day I wint to worruk there I didn't think 'tw'ud be a steady job, and be jabers, I wor roight."
Some accident prevented me from attending a musicale given by a would-be friend the other evening.
When I met him later he expressed himself after the usual style, about having missed me, but I had loaded up my old blunderbuss, and gave him a corker.
"And we were sorry not to be with you, Jones, but to tell you the truth, our cook had company unexpectedly, and she needed us to fill out the card tables."
Jones never speaks to me now.
I really imagine the fellow believed what I told him, which speaks well for my veracity.