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married a few months, and were both delighted with the
rosy boy who lay in the cradle at the foot of the bed. There
was a savoury smell of beefsteak in the room and Philip’s
eyes turned to the range.
‘I was just going to dish up this minute,’ said the woman.
‘Fire away,’ said Philip. ‘I’ll just have a look at the son and
heir and then I’ll take myself off.’
Husband and wife laughed at Philip’s expression, and
‘Erb getting up went over with Philip to the cradle. He
looked at his baby proudly.
‘There doesn’t seem much wrong with him, does there?’
said Philip.
He took up his hat, and by this time ‘Erb’s wife had
dished up the beefsteak and put on the table a plate of green
peas.
‘You’re going to have a nice dinner,’ smiled Philip.
‘He’s only in of a Sunday and I like to ‘ave something spe-
cial for him, so as he shall miss his ‘ome when he’s out at
work.’
‘I suppose you’d be above sittin’ down and ‘avin’ a bit of
dinner with us?’ said ‘Erb.
‘Oh, ‘Erb,’ said his wife, in a shocked tone.
‘Not if you ask me,’ answered Philip, with his attractive
smile.
‘Well, that’s what I call friendly, I knew ‘e wouldn’t take
offence, Polly. Just get another plate, my girl.’
Polly was flustered, and she thought ‘Erb a regular cau-
tion, you never knew what ideas ‘e’d get in ‘is ‘ead next; but
she got a plate and wiped it quickly with her apron, then