“‘Wot’s the matter?’ ses the skipper agin; and as ’e spoke it came over me like a flash wot a false persition I was in, and wot a nasty-tempered man ’e could be when ’e liked.
“‘Why didn’t you tell me you’d got a lady-friend there?’ ses the boy, shaking his ’ed at me. ‘Why, I might ’ave hit ’er with a bit o’ coke, and never forgiven myself!’
“‘Lady-friend!’ ses the skipper, with a start. ‘Oh, Bill, I am surprised!’
“My throat was so dry I couldn’t ’ardly speak. ‘It’s my missis,’ I ses, at last.
“‘Your missis?’ ses the skipper. ‘Woes she ’iding behind there for?’
“‘She—she’s shy,’ I ses. ‘Always was, all ’er life. She can’t bear other people. She likes to be alone with me.’
“‘Oh, watchman!’ ses the boy. ‘I wonder where you expect to go to?’
“‘Missis my grandmother!’ ses the skipper, with a wink. ‘I’m going to ’ave a peep.’
“‘Stand back!’ I ses, pushing ’im off. ‘I don’t spy on you, and I don’t want you to come spying on me. You get off! D’ye hear me? Get off!’
“We had a bit of a struggle, till my foot slipped, and while I was waving my arms and trying to get my balance back ’e made a dash for the empties. Next moment he was roaring like a mad bull that ’ad sat down in a sorsepan of boiling water, and rushing back agin to kill me.