“It's miserable for you all alone 'ere by yourself; Charlie,” he ses. “Why not come? She can't marry you against your will. Besides, I miss you.”
Charlie shook 'ands with 'im, but 'e said 'e wouldn't walk out with Mrs. Jennings for a fortune. And all that Ted could say made no difference. He stayed indoors of an evening reading the paper, or going for little walks by 'imself, until at last Ted came 'ome one evening, smiling all over his face, and told 'im they had both been making fools of themselves for nothing.
“Mrs. Jennings is going to be married,” he ses, clapping Charlie on the back.
“Wot?” ses Charlie.
Ted nodded. “Her and Emma 'ad words to-night,” he ses, laughing, “and it all come out. She's been keeping company for some time. He's away at present, and they're going to be married as soon as 'e comes back.”
“Well,” ses Charlie, “why did she——”
“To oblige Emma,” ses Ted, “to frighten you into staying at 'ome. I'd 'ad my suspicions for some time, from one or two things I picked up.”
“Ho!” ses Charlie. “Well, it'll be my turn to laugh to-morrow night. We'll see whether she can shake me off agin.”
Ted looked at 'im a bit worried. “It's a bit orkard,” he ses, speaking very slow. “You see, they made it up arterwards, and then they both made me promise not to tell you, and if you come, they'll know I 'ave.”
Charlie did a bit o' thinking. “Not if I pretend to make love to Mrs. Jennings?” he ses, at last, winking at 'im. “And it'll serve her right for being deceitful. We'll see 'ow she likes it. Wot sort o' chap is the young man—big?”