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Bennett, Arnold, 1867-1931

"The Grim Smile of the Five Towns"

Give it
up right now! It's worse nor drink, as a habit. Kiss 'em, cuddle
'em, beat 'em. But dunna' reason wi' 'em.'
'What should you have done in my place?' Harold asked.
'I should ha' told Maud her was quite right.'
'But she wasn't.'
'Then I should ha' winked at mysen i' th' glass,' continued Dan,
'and kissed her.'
'That's all very well--'
'Naturally,' said Dan, 'her wanted to show off that car i' front
o' me. That was but natural. And her was vexed when it went
wrong.'
'But I told her--I explained to her.'
'Her's a handsome little wench,' Dan proceeded. 'And a good heart.
But thou'st got ten times her brains, lad, and thou ought'st to
ha' given in.'
'But I can't always be--'
'It's allus them as gives in as has their own way. I remember her
grandfather--he was th' eldest o' us--he quarrelled wi' his wife
afore they'd been married a week, and she raced him all over th'
town wi' a besom--'
'With a besom, uncle?' exclaimed Harold, shocked at these family
disclosures.
'Wi' a besom,' said Dan. That come o' reasoning wi' a woman. It
taught him a lesson, I can tell thee. And afterwards he always
said as nowt was worth a quarrel--NOWT! And it isna'.'
'I don't think Maud will race me all over the town with a besom,'
Harold remarked reflectively.


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