What's wrong?"
He turned bleared, yet honest-looking eyes upon me.
"The whole blasted show!" said he. "There's nothing right in it, s'welp
me Gawd."
I gave a modified assent to the proposition and drew my coat-collar over
my eyes. "Being wet through doesn't make it any better," said I.
"Who would ha' thought it would come down as it has to-day? Tell me
that. It's enough to make a man cut his throat!"
I was somewhat surprised. "You're not in such a great distress just
because it has been a rainy day!"
"Ain't I just!" he exclaimed. "It's been and gone and ruined me, this
day has. Look 'ere, guv'nor, I'll tell you all about it. I've been out
of work, see? I was in 'orspital for three months and I couldn't get
nothing regular to do when I come out. I'm a packer by trade. I did odd
jobs, see, and the wife she earned a little, too, and we managed to keep
things going and to scrape together five shillings, that's three months'
savings, against Whitsun Bank Holiday. And as the weather was so fine,
I laid it all out in paper windmills to sell to the kids on 'Amstead
'Eath.
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