. 'I shall be quite 'appy sitting at the gate
in the sun with a glass o' milk an' a pipe.'

"He persuaded 'er at last, and, in a fit o' generosity, gave 'er three
shillings to go shopping with, and as soon as she was out o' sight he
went off with a crutch and a stick, smiling all over 'is face. He met
Dick Weed in the road and they shook 'ands quite friendly, and Job asked
'im to 'ave a drink. Then Henery White and some more chaps came along,
and by the time they got to the Cauliflower they was as merry a party as
you'd wish to see.

"Every man 'ad a pint o' beer, which Job paid for, not forgetting Smith
'isself, and Job closed 'is eyes with pleasure as 'e took his. Then
they began to talk about 'is accident, and Job showed 'em is leg and
described wot it felt like to be a teetotaler for seven weeks.

"'And I'll trouble you for that five pounds, Smith,' 'e ses, smiling.
'I've been without anything stronger than milk for seven weeks. I never
thought when I wrote that paper I was going to earn my own money.'

"'None of us did, Job,' ses Smith. 'D'ye think that leg'll be all right
agin? As good as the other, I mean?'

"'Doctor ses so,' ses Job.

"'It's wonderful wot they can do nowadays,' ses Smith, shaking 'is 'ead.

"''Strordinary,' ses Job; 'where's that five pounds, Smith?'

"'You don't want to put any sudden weight or anything like that on it
for a time, Job,' ses Smith; 'don't get struggling or fighting, whatever
you do, Job.'

"''Taint so likely,' ses Job; 'd'ye think I'm a fool? Where's that five
pounds, Smith?'

"'Ah, yes,' ses Smith, looking as though 'e'd just remembered something.
'I wanted to tell you about that, to see if I've done right. I'm glad
you've come in.'

"'Eh?' ses Job Brown, staring at 'im.

"'Has your wife gone shopping to-day?' ses Smith, looking at 'im very
solemn.

"Job Brown put 'is mug down on the table and turned as pale as ashes.
Then 'e got up and limped over to the bar.

"'Wot d'yer mean' he ses, choking.

"'She said she thought o' doing so,' ses Smith, wiping a glass; 'she
came in yesterday and asked for that five pounds she'd won. The doctor
came in with 'er and said she'd kept you from licker for seven weeks,
let alone a month; so, according to the paper, I 'ad to give it to 'er.
I 'ope I done right, Job?'

"Job didn't answer 'im a word, good or bad. He just turned 'is back on
him, and, picking up 'is crutch and 'is stick, hobbled off 'ome. Henery
White tried to m