“‘Dear me!’ ses Uncle Dick, shifting away as far as ’e could.

“’I ain’t ‘ad a wink o’ sleep for two nights,’ ses ’Arry—­’not ever since I ’eard of it.  When I think of all I’ve done for that woman-working for ’er, and such-like-my blood boils.  When I think of her passing ’erself off as a widder—­my widder—­and going out with another man, I don’t know wot to do with myself.’

“Uncle Dick started and turned pale.  Fust ’e seemed as if ’e was going to speak, and then ’e thought better of it.  He sat staring at ’Arry as if ’e couldn’t believe his eyes.

“‘Wot would you do with a man like that?’ ses ’Arry.  ’I ask you, as man to man, wot would you do to ‘im?’

“’P’r’aps-p’r’aps ‘e didn’t know,’ ses Uncle Dick, stammering.

“‘Didn’t know!’ ses ’Arry.  ’Don’t care, you mean.  We’ve got a nice little ’ome, and, just because I’ve ’ad to leave it and lay low for a bit for knifing a man, she takes advantage of it.  And it ain’t the fust time, neither.  Wot’s the matter?’

“‘Touch-touch of ague; I get it sometimes,’ ses Uncle Dick.

“‘I want to see this man Finch,’ ses ’Arry, shaking ’is knobby stick.  ’Muffit, my name is, and I want to tell ‘im so.’

“Uncle Dick nearly shook ’imself on to the floor.

“’I—­I’ll go and see if ‘e’s in the fo’c’sle,’ he ses at last.

“’He ain’t there, ‘cos I’ve looked,’ ses ’Arry, ’arf shutting ’is eyes and looking at ’im hard.  ‘Wot might your name be?’

“‘My name’s Finch,’ ses Uncle Dick, putting out his ’ands to keep him off; ’but I thought she was a widder.  She told me her ’usband died ten years ago; she’s deceived me as well as you.  I wouldn’t ha’ dreamt of taking any notice of ’er if I’d known.  Truth, I wouldn’t.  I should’nt ha’ dreamt of such a thing.’

“Artful ’Arry played with ’is stick a little, and stood looking at ’im with a horrible look on ’is face.

“‘’Ow am I to know you’re speaking the truth?’ he ses, very slow.  ’Eh?  ‘Ow can you prove it?’

“‘If it was the last word I was to speak I’d say the same,’ ses Uncle Dick.  ‘I tell you, I am as innercent as a new-born babe.’

“‘If that’s true,’ ses ’Arry, ’she’s deceived both of us.  Now, if I let you go will you go straight off and bring her ‘ere to me?’

“‘I will,’ ses Uncle Dick, jumping up.

“‘’Arf a mo,’ ses ’Arry, holding up ’is stick very quick.  ’One thing is, if you don’t come back, I’ll ’ave you another day.  I can’t make up my mind wot to do.  I can’t think—­I ain’t tasted food for two days.  If I ’ad any money in my pocket I’d ‘ave a bite while you’re gone.’

“‘Why not get something?’ ses Uncle Dick, putting his ’and in his pocket, in a great ’urry to please him, and pulling out some silver.

“’Arry said ’e would, and then he stood on one side to let ’im pass, and even put the knobby stick under ’im to help ’im up the companion-ladder.