"
"Well, I don't think much of it," ses Charlie; "if it's worse than that I
can't look at it--I can't, indeed."
"You ain't been drinking, Charlie?" ses old Cook, in a puzzled voice.
"Certainly not," ses Charlie.
He was pleased to see 'ow anxious they all looked, and when they did come
to the shop 'e set up a laugh that old Cook said chilled the marrer in
'is bones. He stood looking in a 'elpless sort o' way at his wife and
Emma, and then at last he ses, "There it is; and a fair bargain at the
price."
"I s'pose you ain't been drinking?" ses Charlie.
"Wot's the matter with it?" ses Mrs. Cook flaring up.
"Come inside and look at it," ses Emma, taking 'old of his arm.
"Not me," ses Charlie, hanging back. "Why, I wouldn't take it at a
gift."
He stood there on the kerbstone, and all they could do 'e wouldn't budge.
He said it was a bad road and a little shop, and 'ad got a look about it
he didn't like. They walked back 'ome like a funeral procession, and
Emma 'ad to keep saying "_H's!_" in w'ispers to 'er mother all the way.
[Illustration: "He said it was a had road and a little shop, and 'ad got
a look about it he didn't like."]
"I don't know wot Charlie does want, I'm sure," ses Mrs.
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