'is leg.

"It was broken in two places, and the doctor said it would be a long
job, owing to 'is drinking habits, and 'e gave Mrs. Brown strict orders
that Job wasn't to 'ave a drop of anything, even if 'e asked for it.

"There was a lot o' talk about it up at the Cauliflower 'ere, and Henery
White, arter a bad 'eadache, thought of a plan by which 'e and Bill
Chambers could 'ave that five pounds atween 'em. The idea was that Bill
Chambers was to go with Henery to see Job, and take 'im a bottle of
beer, and jist as Job was going to drink it Henery should knock it out
of 'is 'ands, at the same time telling Bill Chambers 'e ought to be
ashamed o' hisself.

"It was a good idea, and, as Henery White said, if Mrs. Brown was in the
room so much the better, as she'd be a witness. He made Bill swear to
keep it secret for fear of other chaps doing it arterwards, and then
they bought a bottle o' beer and set off up the road to Job's. The
annoying part of it was, arter all their trouble and Henery White's
'eadache, Mrs. Brown wouldn't let 'em in. They begged and prayed of 'er
to let 'em go up and just 'ave a peep at 'im, but she wouldn't She said
she'd go upstairs and peep for 'em, and she came down agin and said that
'e was a little bit flushed, but sleeping like a lamb.

"They went round the corner and drank the ale up, and Bill Chambers said
it was a good job. Henery thought 'e was clever, because nobody else
did. As for 'is 'eadaches, he put 'em down to over-eating.

"Several other chaps called to see Job, but none of them was allowed to
go up, and for seven weeks that unfortunate man never touched a drop of
anything. The doctor tried to persuade 'im now that 'e 'ad got the start
to keep it, and 'e likewise pointed out that as 'e had been without
liquor for over a month, he could go and get that five pounds back out
o' Smith.

"Job promised that 'e would give it up; but the fust day 'e felt able
to crawl on 'is crutches he made up 'is mind to go up to the Cauliflower
and see whether gin and beer tasted as good as it used to. The only
thing was 'is wife might stop 'im.

"'You're done up with nursing me, old gal,' he ses to 'is wife.

"'I am a bit tired,' ses she.

"'I could see it by your eyes,' ses Job. 'What you want is a change,
Polly. Why not go and see your sister at Wickham?"

"'I don't like leaving you alone,' ses Mrs. Brown, 'else I'd like to go.
I want to do a little shopping.'

"'You go, my dear,' ses Job