I 'ad just come on dooty, and afore I could ask 'im wot was the matter he 'ad got me in the 'Bull's Head' and stood me three 'arf-pints, one arter the other.

"Bet you a level 'arf-dollar I ain't wearing it next Sunday," he said, in a hoarse whisper.

"I sold it for thirty bob," ses Bob Pretty, "and when I went out this evening I left the money on my bedroom mantelpieceone pound, two arf-crowns, two two-shilling pieces, and two sixpences.

'We've been watching 'is goings-on for the last 'arf-hour; better than a play it was.'

"You two go 'ome and leave me," she ses, arf crying.

'Wot about that other 'arf-quid?' "'Here it is,' I ses, giving it to 'im. 'Fair masterpiece, that's wot you are.

Where's the skipper?' "'Sitting in the "Albion",' I ses, 'arf choking.

"He gave me the money for Artful 'Arry in two 'arf-suverins, and then we went over to the 'Albion' for a quiet glass and a pipe, and to wait for seven o'clock.

"He ran to the side and pointed at the water, which was just about at 'arf-tide.

Then the gent crawls out and hands me five bobtwo 'arf-crownsand then he helps the lady out, and away they waddles to the doorway

Them coins, Isaac'he pointed a slow finger at Bessie, whose white, fierce face moved involuntarily'them 'arf-crowns wor paid across the bar lasst night, or the night afore, at Dawson's, by yor wife, as is now stannin there, an she'll deny it if she can!' For an instant the whole group preserved their positionsthe breath suspended on their lips.

"They ain't 'arf pitchin' it in.

"Cheese!"she says, at last"eightpence the 'arf pound!

An now, Isaac'the hoarse voice began to tremble'now there's twosuverinsleft, and one 'arf-crownout o' seventy-one pound fower an sixpenceseventy-one pound, Isaac!

He chucked his 'arf soverings about as if they were dirt, he did.

" "I couldn't tell you," ses the gal, just dabbing at'er eyeswith a lace pocket-'ankercher about one and a 'arf times the size of 'er nose.

They sat there for over an hour and a 'arf talking, and then Sam, with a look at Ginger, said they must be going, because he '

He thought it was Bill carrying on agin, and 'e was out o' that door and 'arf-way downstairs afore he stopped to take breath.

'An I 'eard yer comin,' she ended; 'an I thought I'd tell yeran I wor frightened about the 'arf-crownspeople 'ad been talkin

It was a lovely morning, and, having nothing to do and plenty in 'is pocket to do it with, he went along like a schoolboy with a 'arf holiday.