nd
fixed it all up with Charlie Dixon, and now 'ere are you a-upsettin'
of my plans. I don't like my plans upset, 'Earty; I don't really."

Mr. Hearty looked at Bindle in amazement. This was to him a new
Bindle. He had been prepared for anything but this attitude, which
seemed to take everything for granted.

"I shouldn't make it a big weddin', 'Earty. There ain't time for that,
and jest a nice pleasant little weddin'-breakfast. A cake, of course;
you must 'ave a cake. No woman don't feel she's married without a
cake. She'd sooner 'ave a cake than an 'usband."

"I tell you, Joseph, that I shall not allow Millie to marry this young
man on Tuesday. I am very busy and I must----"

"I shouldn't go, 'Earty, if I was you. I shouldn't really; I should
jest stop 'ere and listen to wot I 'ave to say."

"I have been very patient with you for some years past, Joseph," began
Mr. Hearty, "and I must confess----"

"You 'ave, 'Earty," interrupted Bindle quietly, looking at him over a
flaming match, "you 'ave. If you wasn't wanted in the greengrocery
line, you'd 'ave been on a monument, you're that patient. 'As it ever
struck you, 'Earty,"--there was a sterner note in Bindle's
voice,--"'as it ever struck you that sometimes coves is patient
because they're afraid to knock the other cove down?"

"I refuse to discuss such matters, Joseph," said Mr. Hearty with
dignity.

"Well, well, 'Earty! p'raps you're right," responded Bindle. "Least
said, soonest mended. So them kids ain't goin' to get married on
Toosday, you say," he continued calmly.

"I thought I had made that clear." Mr. Hearty's hands shook with
nervousness.

"You 'ave, 'Earty, you 'ave," said Bindle mournfully.

"What right have you to--to interfere in--in such matters?" demanded
Mr. Hearty, deliberately endeavouring to work himself up into a state
of indignation. "Millie shall marry when I please, and her husband
shall be of my choosing."

Bindle looked at Mr. Hearty in surprise. He had never known him so
determined.

"You think because you're Martha's brother-in-law,"--Mr. Hearty was
meticulously accurate in describing the exact relationship existing
between them,--"that gives you a right to--to order me about," he
concluded rather lamely.

"Look 'ere, 'Earty!" said Bindle calmly, "if you goes on like that,
you'll be ill."

"I have been meaning to speak to you for some time past," continued
Mr. Hearty, gaining courage. "Once and for all you must cease to