I got 'ome at about a quarter to seven, and slept like a child till pretty near four. Then I went downstairs to 'ave my dinner. The moment I opened the door I see there was something wrong. Three times my missis licked 'er lips afore she could speak. Her face 'ad gone a dirty white colour, and she was leaning forward with her 'ands on her 'ips, trembling all over with temper. “Is my dinner ready?” I ses, easy-like. “'Cos I'm ready for _it_.” “I—I wonder I don't tear you limb from limb,” she ses, catching her breath. “Wot's the matter?” I ses. “And then boil you,” she ses, between her teeth. “You in one pot and your precious Dorothy in another.” If anybody 'ad offered me five pounds to speak then, I couldn't ha' done it. I see wot I'd done in a flash, and I couldn't say a word; but I kept my presence o' mind, and as she came round one side o' the table I went round the other. “Wot 'ave you got to say for yourself?” she ses, with a scream. “Nothing,” I ses, at last. “It's all a mistake.” “Mistake?” she ses. “Yes, you made a mistake leaving it in your pocket; that's all the mistake you've made. That's wot you do, is it, when you're supposed to be at the wharf? Go about with a blue 'at with red roses in it! At your time o' life, and a wife at 'ome working herself to death to make both ends meet and keep you respectable!” “It's all a mistake,” I ses. “The letter wasn't for me.” “Oh, no, o' course not,” she ses. “That's why you'd got it in your pocket, I suppose. And I suppose you'll say your name ain't Bill next.” “Don't say things you'll be sorry for,” I ses. “I'll take care o' that,” she ses. “I might be sorry for not saying some things, but I don't think I shall.” I don't think she was. I don't think she forgot anything, and she raked up things that I 'ad contradicted years ago and wot I thought was all forgot. And every now and then, when she stopped for breath, she'd try and get round to the same side of the table I was. She follered me to the street door when I went and called things up the road arter me. I 'ad a snack at a coffee-shop for my dinner, but I 'adn't got much appetite for it; I was too full of trouble and finding fault with myself, and I went off to my work with a 'art as heavy as lead. I suppose I 'adn't been on the wharf ten minutes afore Cap'n Smithers came sidling up to me, but I got my spoke in fust. “Look 'ere,” I ses, “if you're going to talk about that forward hussy wot's been writing to you, I ain't. I'm sick and tired of 'er.” “Forward hussy!” he ses. “_Forward hussy_!” And afore I could drop my broom he gave me a punch in the jaw that pretty near broke it. “Say another word against her,” he ses, “and I'll knock your ugly 'ead off. How dare you insult a lady?” I thought I should 'ave gone crazy at fust, but I went off into the office without a word. Some men would ha' knocked 'im down for it, but I made allowances for 'is state o' mind, and I stayed inside until I see 'im get aboard agin.