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It was no use waiting for such rain to stop, and they quarrelled again because Chook insisted that she should wait in the markets till he went home with one chaff-bag and came back for the other. Each bag, bulging with vegetables, was nearly the size of Pinkey, but the expert in moving furniture was not to be dismayed by that.
We've bin waitin' 'ere this 'arf 'our," they cried indignantly. "Wot liars yer do meet," said Chook, grinning. The three entered the new market, an immense red-brick square with a smooth, cemented floor, and a lofty roof on steel girders. It is here the people amuse themselves with the primitive delights of an English fair after the fatigue of shopping.
"All right," said Chook, with regret, "I'll give it to mother fer one of the kids." "Yer can burn it, if yer like," cried Pinkey. Chook held up the hat, and examined it with interest. It was quite unlike any he had seen before. "See 'ow it look on yer," he coaxed. "Not me," said Pinkey, glaring at the hat as if it were Mrs Partridge.
Suddenly it stopped, balanced as if in doubt, and fell on its face. "Two tails!" cried the gaffers, and the trot of heads was finished. Chook's stake was swept away, and the boxer handed him ten pounds. Chook tossed a pound to him for commission. He acknowledged it with a grunt, and looking round the ring at the winning players cried out "How is it? how is it?"
She quailed as she remembered what they had found in the cupboard and the bottom drawer of the wardrobe. Never again could she face Chook and Pinkey, knowing what they did, and take her pickings of the shop. Suddenly she recovered her tongue, and turned on Chook, transformed with rage. "William will break every bone in yer body when 'e 'ears what you've done," she cried, "mark my words.
Order was restored, but at intervals the girls broke into ripples of hysterical laughter. Then Chook saw the organ, with its rows of painted pipes, and nudged Jonah. "Wot price that fer a mouth-orgin, eh? Yer'd want a extra pair o' bellows ter play that."
"'Ello, Ada, w'ere you goin'?" he inquired, with a facetious grin. "Cum 'ere, I want ter talk ter yer." The fat girl stopped and laughed. "Can't I'm in a 'urry," she replied. "Well, kin I cum wid yer?" he asked, with another grin. "Not wi' that face, Chook," she answered, laughing. "None o' yer lip, now, or I'll tell Jonah wot yer were doin' last night," said Chook.
She put it down as if it were made of glass. "I'll git Miss Jones to alter the bow, an' put the feathers farther back," she said, like one in a dream. "I thought yer wouldn't wear it at any price," said Chook, delighted, but puzzled. "Sometimes you talk like a man that's bin drinkin'," said Pinkey, with the faintest possible smile.
"No," said Chook; "but yer will w'en yer go 'ome an' find your 'ouse empty." "An' who moved me?" "Me an' Liz," said Chook. "The picnic wasn't till next week, an' Liz an' me thought we'd give yer a surprise." For the first time in her life Mrs Partridge was speechless. She saw that she had been tricked shamefully. They had ransacked her house, and laid bare all the secrets of her little luxuries.
"Good evenin', Mr Partridge glad ter see yer," cried Chook, advancing with outstretched hand; but the old man ignored him. His eyes travelled slowly round the room, taking in every detail of the humble furniture.
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