“Well! I ain’t a’going to stay ’ere any longer,” said Mrs. Stubbs, as she bounced up from her seat, “the very hair seems to collaborate me. I’ll get a bed at the Pig and Whistle, which the lady knows me well, and to-morrer p’r’aps you’ll let me know, Mrs. Battleby, what that old feller means to do for that misfortunate, wicked gal there. If ’e don’t provide for ’er, she must just go to the workus, for I washes my ’ands of ’er altogether!” “Saying as I was no man, indeed,” added Joe, indignantly, “I’d like to take the old chap outside for a minute and I’d soon let ’im know which on us was the best man. A dried-up, withered old carcase like that, and an _I_-talian into the bargain, who’s been fed on macaroni and snails. I like ’is imperence!” “Come on, Joe! don’t waste no more time ’ere,” exclaimed Mrs. Stubbs, “if we make ’aste, we shall be in time for a music ’all yet, and I do love a music ’all. It’ll put all this wickedness as we’ve been talking of, out of my ’ead.” She went into the area as she spoke, followed by Mrs. Battleby, cackling all the while of the Devil and his ways. Hannah was left for a moment alone with Joe. “Joe!” she ejaculated, plaintively, as she raised her head, “don’t you leave me for a minute. Your words ’ave nigh broke my ’eart. I’ve allays loved you, Joe, and I’ve been true and faithful to you, ever since we was little children together. Don’t you believe what mother and Mrs. Battleby says--they’re talking of what they know nothing. I ain’t pretty, I know, Joe, but I’ve been a good gal to you. Don’t go for to forsake me like mother, for I shall kill myself if you do!” She drew nearer to where the young man stood, sheepishly turning his billy-cock hat round and round in his hands, and laid hers gently upon his. “Do you mind when we fust kep’ company, Joe--when we was nutting in Farmer Burrows’ copse, and you ketched my ’and and kissed me afore I knowed what you was after? That was two good years ago!” CHAPTER VIII. “Well! what of that?” demanded Joe, as he twitched his hand away from that of the girl. “Two years is a goodish time at our age,” continued Hannah, “and through it all I’ve ’oped to be your wife! Be you going to break your word to me now, lad?” She spoke so wistfully that she made Joe feel very uncomfortable, though if he had had his own way, he would have stuck to her, whatever her proclivities. “Well! Hannah, you see it’s just like this,” he replied, after an awkward pause, “Mother, she won’t ’ave any sperrits, nor anyone as deals with ’em, in ’er ’ouse, and there won’t be no other for me to take you to, till she and father kicks the bucket.” “Not if we worked ’ard for it, Joe?” asked the girl. “I ain’t got no work, nor ever shall, but what’s on the farm,” returned Joe, stolidly, “besides which, Hannah, I don’t approve of sich goings on myself. It’ll lead to ’ell some time or other, you mark my word!”