ow, I don't aggravate him,
I put up with everything, it's full six months since he's been a husband
to me, although we sleeps in the same bed," she added in a significant
way, "yes, six months full." "Lor," said half a dozen voices together,
then said one, "Don't he do anything to you then?" Things quieted, off
went Mrs. Smith with some of the women, two remained waiting for their
husbands' platters, they squatted down on the step.

"They're a miserable couple," said one. "Yes, and likely, he is never at
home, no wonder she do take a drop of comfort." "No, it ain't." "She is
a nice little woman, and no man gets his meals nicer." "No, that they
don't." "He's too old for her, but he ain't jealous." "No, in course
not." "Why he ain't done it to her for six months," said one. They both
chuckled then. "Why, my old man don't forget me like that, and he is ten
years older than Smith," said the other. "Ah!" said the first, "he's a
bad 'up altogether, men be a bad lot, the best on 'em." The time-bell
rang, their husbands brought out their dinner-cans, and off the women
went.

I can scarcely tell what followed exactly or how it came about, for even
now to me it seems astonishing. I was but between eighteen and nineteen,
and had not had the remotest idea of getting Mrs. Smith, though I longed
for her lewedly when my cock stood. I was timid with women until I knew
them well, I could never begin with our own servants until they had
been in the house a few days; yet directly I heard this conversation, a
chance seemed in my way, and without meaning it I followed it up.

With but little idea of married life or habits, I saw that not only were
they a wretched couple, but that for months Smith had never touched his
wife. I imagined then that married people were always doing it, that
women were randier than men,--a common belief of young people. I
thought: how she must want a poke! how she would enjoy it! Out I went
to see if Mrs. Smith was about, and saw her walking off with a group of
sympathizers, who dropped off gradually, until she was left with one,
with whom she went into a public-house. In a few minutes they came out
and parted. On she went alone, and went into another public-house, and
then wiping her eyes as she came out, went her way alone; I after her,
lewed and thinking to myself, "she has not had it for six months," and
so on. She went into a public-house now by herself. I waited till she
came out, and saw she had been tak