Page:The Works of H G Wells Volume 8.djvu/380

 "Look 'ere, Ann! Arst to go. Arst to go!"

"She wouldn't," said Ann.

"Then come without arsting," said Kipps.

"She'd keep my box"

"She won't."

"She will."

"She won't."

"You don't know 'er."

"Well, desh 'er—let 'er! Who cares? I'll buy you a 'undred boxes if you'll come."

"It wouldn't be right towards Her."

"It isn't Her you got to think about, Ann. It's me."

"And you 'aven't treated me properly," she said. "You 'aven't treated me properly, Artie. You didn't ought to 'ave"

"I didn't say I '," he interrupted, "did I? Ann," he appealed, "I didn't come to arguefy. I'm all wrong. I never said I wasn't. It's yes or no. Me or not I been a fool. There! See? I been a fool. Ain't that enough? I got myself all tied up with everyone and made a fool of myself all round"

He pleaded, "It isn't as if we didn't care for one another, Ann."

She seemed impassive, and he resumed his discourse.

"I thought I wasn't likely ever to see you again, Ann. I reely did. It isn't as though I was seein' you all the time. I didn't know what I wanted, and I went and be'aved like a fool-jest as anyone might. I know what I want and I know what I don't want now.