Charlie laughed, and the more Mrs. Jennings showed 'er dislike for 'is
nonsense the more he gave way to it. Even Ted thought it was going too
far, and tried to interfere when he put his arm round Mrs. Jennings's
waist and made 'er dance to a piano-organ; but there was no stopping 'im,
and at last Mrs. Jennings said she had 'ad enough of it, and told Emma
she was going off 'ome.

[Illustration: "He put his arm round Mrs. Jennings's waist and made 'er
dance to a piano-organ."]

"Don't take no notice of 'im," ses Emma.

"I must," ses Mrs. Jennings, who was arf crying with rage.

"Well, if you go 'ome, I shall go," ses Emma. "I don't want 'is company.
I believe he's doing it on purpose.

"Behave yourself, Charlie," ses Ted.

"All right, old man," ses Charlie. "You look arter your young woman and
I'll look arter mine."

"Your wot?" ses Mrs. Jennings, very loud.

"My young woman," ses Charlie.

"Look 'ere," ses Emma. "You may as well know first as last--Sophy 'as
got a young man."

"O' course she 'as," ses Charlie. "Twenty-seven on the second of next
January, he is; same as me."

"She's going to be married," ses Emma, very solemn.

"Yes, to me," ses Charlie, pretending to be surprised. "Didn't you know
that?"

He looked so pleased with 'imself at his cleverness that Emma arf put up
her 'and, and then she thought better of it and turned away.

"He's just doing it to get rid of you," she ses to Mrs. Jennings, "and if
you give way you're a bigger silly than I took you for. Let 'im go on
and 'ave his own way, and tell your intended about 'im when you see 'im.
Arter all, you started it."

"I was only 'aving a bit o' fun," ses Mrs. Jennings.

"Well, so is he," ses Emma.

"Not me!" ses Charlie, turning his eyes up. "I'm in dead earnest; and so
is she. It's only shyness on 'er part; it'll soon wear off."

He took 'old of Mrs. Jennings's arm agin and began to tell 'er 'ow lonely
'is life was afore she came acrost his path like an angel that had lost
its way. And he went on like that till she told Emma that she'd either
'ave to go off 'ome or scream. Ted interfered agin then, and, arter
listening to wot he 'ad got to say, Charlie said as 'ow he'd try and keep
his love under control a bit more.

"She won't stand much more of it," he ses to Ted, arter they 'ad got 'ome
that night. "I shouldn't be surprised if she don't turn up to-morrow."

Ted shook his 'ead. "She'll turn up to oblige Emma," he s