“It can't go on for ever,” said Bob Kidd, encouragingly.
“All I ask for—is work,” said Mr. Gibbs, impressively. “Not slavery, mind yer, but work.”
“It's rather difficult to distinguish,” said Mr. Brown.
“'Specially for some people,” added Mr. Kidd.
“Go on,” said Mr. Gibbs, gloomily. “Go on. Stand a man 'arf a pint, and then go and hurt 'is feelings. Twice yesterday I wondered to myself what it would feel like to make a hole in the water.”
“Lots o' chaps do do it,” said Mr. Brown, musingly.
“And leave their wives and families to starve,” said Mr. Gibbs, icily.
“Very often the wife is better off,” said his friend. “It's one mouth less for her to feed. Besides, she gen'rally gets something. When pore old Bill went they 'ad a Friendly Lead at the 'King's Head' and got his missis pretty nearly seventeen pounds.”
“And I believe we'd get more than that for your old woman,” said Mr. Kidd. “There's no kids, and she could keep 'erself easy. Not that I want to encourage you to make away with yourself.”