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Cruncher, or leastways wos in the Old England times, and would be

to-morrow, if cause given, a floppin' again the business to that

degree as is ruinating--stark ruinating! Whereas them medical

doctors' wives don't flop--catch 'em at it! Or, if they flop,

their floppings goes in favour of more patients, and how can you

rightly have one without t'other? Then, wot with undertakers, and

wot with parish clerks, and wot with sextons, and wot with

private watchmen (all awaricious and all in it), a man wouldn't

get much by it, even if it wos so. And wot little a man did get,

would never prosper with him, Mr. Lorry. He'd never have no good

of it; he'd want all along to be out of the line, if he, could

see his way out, being once in--even if it wos so."

"Ugh!" cried Mr. Lorry, rather relenting, nevertheless, "I am

shocked at the sight of you."

"Now, what I would humbly offer to you, sir," pursued Mr.

Cruncher, "even if it wos so, which I don't say it is--"

"Don't prevaricate," said Mr. Lorry.