Untitled - Beeldbibliotheek

THE HUMAN SIDE 31" Paid like smoke. But it worn't any good."There was a pause, and then he added, confidentially,in an undertone, " Couldn't stand themonopoly."" Oh, that was it ? "" Yes : week after week. Yer wouldn'tbelieve 'ow itmonopolous were.ter think of a way out."I've often triedI assured him that I had never suffered in thatrespect, that, on the contrary, I found itveryentertaining. But he stillregarded me with aneye of deep compassion. He clearly wanted tohelp me if he could. At last it came to him." "I'll tell yer wot I sh'd do," he said, if I wosyou. If I wos youI sh'd either (it'd be quitesimple, yer know )I sh'd either run a little bitof a circus or 'old religious meetin's. It don'tmatter w'ich.That's wot I sh'd do."I had to turn away to put the hot plates on thetop of the copper, and when I looked round againhe had gone, which was a pity, as I should haveliked to have had some further conversation withhim, and I think my Partner would have beenpleased to meet him.It is not in the nature of things that all ourencounters should be entirely friendly, but theonly time that I found myself seriously at