“‘You don’t want to put any sudden weight or anything like that on it for a time, Job,’ ses Smith; ‘don’t get struggling or fighting, whatever you do, Job.’
“‘’Taint so likely,’ ses Job; ‘d’ye think I’m a fool? Where’s that five pounds, Smith?’
“‘Ah, yes,’ ses Smith, looking as though ’e’d just remembered something. ‘I wanted to tell you about that, to see if I’ve done right. I’m glad you’ve come in.’
“‘Eh?’ ses Job Brown, staring at ’im.
“‘Has your wife gone shopping to-day?’ ses Smith, looking at ’im very solemn.
“Job Brown put ’is mug down on the table and turned as pale as ashes. Then ’e got up and limped over to the bar.
“‘Wot d’yer mean’ he ses, choking.
“‘She said she thought o’ doing so,’ ses Smith, wiping a glass; ‘she came in yesterday and asked for that five pounds she’d won. The doctor came in with ’er and said she’d kept you from licker for seven weeks, let alone a month; so, according to the paper, I ’ad to give it to ’er. I ’ope I done right, Job?’
“Job didn’t answer ’im a word, good or bad. He just turned ’is back on him, and, picking up ’is crutch and ’is stick, hobbled off ’ome. Henery White tried to make ’im stop and ’ave another pint, but he wouldn’t. He said he didn’t want ’is wife to find ’im out when she returned.”