I don't mind telling 'ee I've been through a fire of
temptation. You know why I jumped into that boat: it vexed you a bit, I
dare say. And strickly speakin', mind you"--Billy took his friend by
the button-hole--"strickly speakin' I'd the right on my side. 'Let the
best man win' was our agreement. But you needn' to fret yourself: _I_
ben't the man to take an advantage of an old friend, fair though it be.
Man, I ha'n't been to Ardevora--I turned back. So finish your beer and
come'st along with me, and we'll walk down to Selina Johns together and
ask her which of us she'll choose, fair and square."
Abe set down his mug and looked up, studying the signboard over the
door.
"Well," says he, "'tis a real relief to my mind to know you've played so
fair. For man and boy, Bill, I always thought it of you."
"Yes, indeed," says Billy, "man and boy, it always was my motto."
"But as consarnin' Selina Johns," Abe went on, "there ain't no such
woman."
"You don't tell me she's dead!"
"No; 'tis her first husband that's dead. She's Selina Widlake now."
"How long have 'ee knowed that?"
"Maybe an hour, maybe only three-quarters. Her name's Selina Widlake,
and she owns this here public. What's more, her name isn't going to be
Selina Widlake, but Selina Cummins. We've fixed it up, and she's to
leave Nancledrea and take the Welcome Home over to Ardevora.
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