Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul

by H. G. Wells

"She won't."

"She will."

"She won't."

"You don't know 'er."

"Well, desh'er—let'er! Let'er! Who cares? I'll buy you a 'undred boxes if you'll come."

"It wouldn't be right towards Her."

"It isn't Her you got to think about, Ann. It's me."

"And you 'aven't treated me properly," she said. "You 'aven't treated me properly, Artie. You didn't ought to 'ave——"

"I didn't say I 'ad," he interrupted, "did I, Ann?" he appealed. "I didn't come to arguefy. I'm all wrong. I never said I wasn't. It's yes or no. Me or not.... I been a fool. There! See? I been a fool. Ain't that enough? I got myself all tied up with everyone and made a fool of myself all around...."

He pleaded, "It isn't as if we didn't care for one another, Ann."