William Somerset Maugham

“ Fancy you 'avin' a fight with a woman! Oh, I've 'ad some in my day, but then I wasn't a little bit of a thing like you is. I wish I'd been there, I wouldn't 'ave stood by an' looked on while my daughter was gettin' the worst of it; although I'm turned sixty-five, an' gettin' on for sixty-six, I'd 'ave said to 'er: "If you touch my daughter you'll 'ave me ter deal with, so just look aht!"'
She brandished her glass, and that reminding her, she refilled it and Liza's. ”

“ I know yer did. Yer dirty bitch! You oughter be ishimed of yourself tikin' a married man from 'is family, an' 'im old enough ter be yer father.'
'She's right there!' said one or two of the onlooking women. 'There can't be no good in 'er if she tikes somebody else's 'usbind.'
'I'll give it yer!' proceeded Mrs. Blakeston, getting more hot and excited, brandishing her fist, and speaking in a loud voice, hoarse with rage. 'Oh, I've been tryin' ter git 'old on yer this four weeks. Why, you're a prostitute that's wot you are!'
'I'm not!' answered Liza indignantly. ”

“ When one thinks of the mighty British Hempire," says 'e, "on which the sun never sets from mornin' till night, one 'as ter be proud of 'isself, an' one 'as ter do one's duty in thet walk of life in which it 'as pleased Providence ter set one an' every man's fust duty is ter get as many children as 'e bloomin' well can." Lord love yer 'e could talk, I can tell yer.'
'Drink up, mother,' said Liza. 'You're not 'alf drinkin'.' She flourished the bottle. ”

“ Jim looked up. ''Oo the devil are you?' he said.
'Leave off, I tell yer. Aren't yer ashimed of yerself, knockin' a woman abaht like that?' And she sprang at him, seizing his fist.
'Let go,' he said, 'or I'll give you a bit.'
'Yer'd better not touch me,' she said. 'Yer dirty coward! Why, look at 'er, she's almost senseless.'
Jim stopped and gazed at his wife. He got up and gave her a kick.
'Git up!' he said; but she remained huddled up on the floor, moaning feebly. The woman from downstairs went on her knees and took her head in her arms. ”

“ By gosh, you did fly on her when she spat at yer! thet's the way ter do the job!'
Then turning to his fellow, he said:
'D'yer remember thet fight as old Mother Cregg 'ad with another woman in the street last year?'
'Na,' he answered, 'I never saw thet.'
'It was a cawker; an' the cops come in and took 'em both off ter quod.'
Liza wished the policemen would come and take her off; she would willingly have gone to prison to escape the fiend in front of her; but no help came.
'Time's up!' shouted the referee. 'Fire away!'
'Tike care of the cops!' shouted a man. ”

“ Blakeston stopped to rest herself.
'It don't seem 'ardly fair to set them two on tergether. Liza's got no chanst against a big woman like thet,' said a man among the crowd.
'Well, it's er' own fault,' answered a woman; 'she didn't oughter mess about with 'er 'usbind.'
'Well, I don't think it's right,' added another man. 'She's gettin' it too much.'
'An' serve 'er right too!' said one of the women. 'She deserves all she gets an' a damn sight more inter the bargain.'
'Quite right,' put in a third; 'a woman's got no right ter tike someone's 'usbind from 'er. ”

“ That night she told Jim, and tried to make a joke of it.
'I say, Jim, your missus she says she's goin' ter give me socks if she catches me.'
'My missus! 'Ow d'yer know?'
'She's been tellin' people in the street.'
'Go' lumme,' said Jim, furious, 'if she dares ter touch a 'air of your 'ead, swop me dicky I'll give 'er sich a 'idin' as she never 'ad before! By God, give me the chanst, an' I would let 'er 'ave it; I'm bloomin' well sick of 'er sulks!' He clenched his fist as he spoke.
Liza was a coward. She could not help thinking of her enemy's threat ”

“ Nice thing ter go an' leave yer wife and children for a thing like thet! At your age, too! You oughter be ashimed of yerself. Why, it's like messin' abaht with your own daughter!'
'By God!' he ground his teeth with rage 'if yer don't leave me alone, I'll kick the life aht of yer!'
'There!' she said, turning to the crowd 'there, see 'ow 'e treats me! Listen ter that! I've been 'is wife for twenty years, an' yer couldn't 'ave 'ad a better wife, an' I've bore 'im nine children, yet say nothin' of a miscarriage, an' I've got another comin', an' thet's 'ow 'e treats me! ”

“ You're right, mother, when you're in trouble there's nothin' like a bit of spirits.'
'Well, if I don't know, I dunno 'oo does, for the trouble I've 'ad, it 'ud be enough to kill many women. Well, I've 'ad thirteen children, an' you can think wot thet was; everyone I 'ad I used ter sy I wouldn't 'ave no more but one does, yer know. You'll 'ave a family some day, Liza, an' I shouldn't wonder if you didn't 'ave as many as me. ”

“ I always used ter do thet myself when me an' your poor father 'ad words.'
'Oh, I'm all over in a tremble, an' my 'ead, oo, my 'ead does feel bad!'
'I know wot yer want,' remarked Mrs. Kemp, nodding her head, 'an' it so 'appens as I've got the very thing with me.' She pulled a medicine bottle out of her pocket, and taking out the cork smelt it. 'Thet's good stuff, none of your firewater or your methylated spirit. I don't often indulge in sich things, but when I do I likes to 'ave the best.'
She handed the bottle to Liza, who took a mouthful and gave it her back ”

“ Blakeston. 'E's not goin' ter touch yer. 'Ere, drink this little drop of water.' Then turning to Jim, with infinite disdain: 'Yer dirty blackguard, you! If I was a man I'd give you something for this.'
Jim put on his hat and went out, slamming the door, while the woman shouted after him: 'Good riddance!' *⁠*⁠* 'Lord love yer,' said Mrs. Kemp, 'wot is the matter?'
She had just come in, and opening the door had started back in surprise at seeing Liza on the bed, all tears. Liza made no answer, but cried as if her heart were breaking. Mrs. Kemp went up to her and tried to look at her face. ”

“ Turning, she walked rapidly in the direction she had come; with a screw round of her eyes she saw that she was being followed, and therefore went straight out of Vere Street. She went right round, meaning to get into the street from the other end and, unobserved, slip into her house, which was then quite close ”