BOOK 2
ILLUSTRATIONS
FROM DRAWINGS BY WILL OWEN
"Cheer up," said Mr George Brown |
FRIENDS IN NEED
R. Joseph Gibbs finished his half-pint in the private bar of the Red Lionwith the slowness of a man unable to see where the next was coming from,and, placing the mug on the counter, filled his pipe from a small paperof tobacco and shook his head slowly at his companions.
"First I've 'ad since ten o'clock this morning," he said, in a hardvoice.
"Cheer up," said Mr. George Brown.
"It can't go on for ever," said Bob Kidd, encouragingly.
"All I ask for—is work," said Mr. Gibbs, impressively. "Not slavery,mind yer, but work."
"It's rather difficult to distinguish," said Mr. Brown.
"'Specially for some people," added Mr. Kidd.
"Go on," said Mr. Gibbs, gloomily. "Go on. Stand a man 'arf a pint, andthen go and hurt 'is feelings. Twice yesterday I wondered to myself whatit would feel like to make a hole in the water."
"Lots o' chaps do do it," said Mr. Brown, musingly.
"And leave their wives and families to starve," said Mr. Gibbs, icily.
"Very often the wife is better off," said his friend. "It's one mouthless for her to feed. Besides, she gen'rally gets something. When poreold Bill went they 'ad a Friendly Lead at the 'King's Head' and got hismissis pretty nearly seventeen pounds."
"And I believe we'd get more than that for your old woman," said Mr.Kidd. "There's no kids, and she could keep 'erself easy. Not that Iwant to encourage you to make away with yourself."
Mr. Gibbs scowled and, tilting his mug, peered gloomily into theinterior.
"Joe won't make no 'ole in the water," said Mr. Brown, wagging his head."If it was beer, now—"
Mr. Gibbs turned and, drawing himself up to five feet three, surveyed thespeaker with an offensive stare.
"I don't see why he need make a 'ole in anything," said Mr. Kidd, slowly."It 'ud do just as well if we said he 'ad. Then we could pass the hatround and share it."
"Divide it into three