W. Pett Ridge

“ What he wants me to say is he acted on the impulse of the moment.”
“He'd better give up acting altogether,” she remarked. “Did you really know my husband well, or was it all gas?”
“Didn't I never tell you about that affair poor Crowther and me had with a bobby down near the London Docks one night in November? A fine chap,” went on Hards reminiscently, “if ever there was one. The way he could put up his dooks whenever there was trouble about! I seldom met a fellow who was his equal. He was what I call a manly man. ”

“ Crowther so far relented as to call the new girl; she instructed her to attend to the customer the while she herself retired to the back to wash up dishes. Mr. Hards said in a whisper to the attendant: “Don't seem to have quite pulled it off, first go!” and Ethel, also in an undertone, replied: “Mustn't get discouraged, uncle. Mother always says it's your one fault. ”

“ She sighed. “Mr. Crowther had a lot of poetry in his disposition—much more so than most eating-house keepers in Millwall.”
“Did he make bits up out of his own 'ead?” asked the girl deferentially.
“Ethel,” said the proprietress, nursing a column of plates and speaking with resolution, “you're new to the place, and you're not full acquainted with the rules. Understand, once for all, please, that I don't allow a word to be said against my late husband—nor whispered.”
“Here's a stray customer coming in, ma'am,” remarked the assistant. “Give me that armful, and you see to him.” ”

“ She, for some reason, seems to have got tired of me living in her house at Greenwich, and it was her idea I should marry well, and settle down somewhere else. Apart from which, I've arrived at a time of life when I need a woman's care and good feeding, and enough money in my pocket to stand treat to friends after they've stood treat to me. ”