"Guv, I dunno wot t' think! 'Ere 's you with your 'ead in your 'ands, an' there's 'er sighin' an' sighin'—"
"Sighing? Where? When? Why—"
"Sighin' an' sighin', Guv, so soft an' pretty—I 'eard 'er! Also she wep'—I seen 'er."
"Where?"
"An' 'er tears, Guv, them pearly tears went t' my 'eart—an' nobody t' put a arm round that waist, nor kiss them sweet lips, nor soothe them tears away—
"'Oh, alone she sat sighin' by a green willer tree,
With 'er 'and on 'er bosom, 'er 'ead on 'er knee,
Weepin' willer" willer, willer my garlan' shall be.'
"So, Guv, I ax you, man to man, why, oh, why are ye neglectin' your fair young spouse? An', Guv, I only ax because your 'appiness an' 'ers is mine—s' 'elp me!"
"How if it's the other way about, Old Un? Suppose she avoids me?"
"Why lumme, Guv! 'T is a sure sign she needs persoot. Remember this:
"'Im as would lovely woman woo
'E lovely woman must persoo,
For if 'e don't, 't is plain as plain
That feller 'e will woo in vain.'