AN OUTCAST 247 



"On groceries, including one-and-six for tobacco. He 

 has four loaves, and I know ' Kruger ' must have more 

 than half of them." 



" And every other week he buys a postal order for two 

 shillings and a penny stamp 



" Pint of mild, mister," says a tall blear-eyed man who 

 comes in, meekly followed by a small woman, dusty and 

 in rags but neat, to whom he offers the tankard after 

 nearly draining it himself. 



" Nice weather," he ventures, smacking his lips. 



" Yes," says the landlord discouragingly, and the carter 

 leaves. 



" Everybody seems to be gone to the flower show," 

 continues the intruder, " and that's where I'm going " 

 (here he looks at his boots), " but the best way for sore 

 feet is three days in a tap-room in some good sawdust." 



The wife sighs. 



" The fat woman that weighs twenty-three stone," says 

 her husband to the company, " is a cousin of mine twice 

 removed, and I have done a bit in the show line myself. 

 It's a rum business. Better than working in a brewery 

 stables, though. Me and my mate had to go because we 

 got up so early that we burnt too many candles." 



The mention of the fat woman rouses the labourers, 

 and one says 



" They say them fat women eats hardly anything 

 at all." 



" Very small eater is Daisy. But you see her food 

 does her good. None of it's wasted." 



" That's it. Her food agrees with her." 



The wife sighs. 



"Now there's my missus here," says the husband. 



