"I be mortal sorry for that poor George--cut up as ever I see a man at
thought of it."
"Tenderest-hearted fellow in these 'ere parts, and a true friend to
all dumb animals."
"She be more 'n an animal to 'im. 'Aving no chick nor child, you may
say as she's companioned 'im these many months."
"'E 'ave right to be proud of 'er too. Never did I see a more 'andsome
sow--an' I've seen a many."
"She's been a right good sow to 'e."
"An' now 'e be nigh 'eart-broken 'long of these unnatural orders. For
stuck ev'ry blessed pig 'as got to be should they Germans get
anywheres within ten miles of us."
"I see 'im now as 'e was when 'e first got wind of it--fair struck all
of a 'eap, 'e were. 'I ain't got no objection to burning ricks,' 'e
says, 'for ricks ain't got 'uman ways to 'em, same as my old sow. But
kill my old sow,' 'e says, 'that's asking of me more 'n I can do.'"
"'Tain't a question of asking, either. Them's our orders, set out in
black and white."
"Somebody says that to George--and a cold-blooded word it seemed to
me, considering 'is depth o' trouble."
"What did the old chap say to that?"
"'Orders?' 'e says; 'ain't this a free country? An' you come between
me an' my old sow with orders!' 'e says."
"'Military law,' I says to 'im myself, 'makes 'avoc o' freedom--so it
do. But with they Germans at your very gates,' I says, 'freedom ain't
the same thing as a clean pair of 'eels. An' a pig's an awkward
customer to drive in an 'urry,' I says."
"Ain't to be done--not really brisk like, any'ow."
"'E seed that, o' course?"
"Wouldn't say so, any way. An' the names 'e called the Government, or
'ooever 'twas as 'anded round them orders, fair surprised us all.
Never knew the old chap could lay 'is tongue to the 'alf of it."
"If ever they Germans get 'ereabout there'll be trouble for the
Government about old George."
"'E ain't got chick nor child, yer see. A man can't get on without
something... Why, 'ere _be_ George."
"Evening, George. You come right in an' 'ave your pint, George."
"I earnt my pint to-day--so I 'ave. Busiest day's work I done this
side o' my wife's passing away, poor soul."
"What you been doing, George?"
"She were a one to keep you busy like. If she be really resting now I
reckon she be pretty miserable. 'Owever, that ain't neither 'ere nor
there."
"You tell us what you been up to, George. We only been talking o' you
when in you walks as large as life."
"We been talking o' you an' these 'ere orders, George, an' we feels
with you to a man. If you should 'ave to kill that fine sow o' yours
along of a lot o' 'ungry Germans 'twill be a mortal shame."
"I shan't never kill 'er for no Germans, so I promises you."
"Then they'll do the killing theirselves--they be dabsters at that."
"No Germans ain't going to kill my sow. Nor I ain't going to kill 'er
in an 'urry to please nobody."
"You'll get yourself in the wrong box, George, if you don't mind."
"You be too venturesome, George--at your old age."
"An' you a pensioner, too. Don't do to be too venturesome when you're
well stricken in years."
"I know what I be saying, though, for all that. Don't do to wait till
you 'ave to waste a good pig--all for nothing like. Good money she be
worth, an' I says to myself, 'You 'ave the money now, my boy, as the
old sow 'll fetch, before it be too late.' My old sow be pretty nigh
pork by now, up at butcher's."
* * * * *