"'I reckon up my years o' life
An' a good long life 'ave I.
Ye see, I never had a wife,
P'raps that's the reason why.'

"So take it from me, young feller, me cove, don't 'ave nothin' to do
with givin' or takin' in marriage."

"Marriage?"

"Marriage ain't good for a fightin' cove--it spiles him, it shakes
'is nerve, it fair ruinates 'im. When love flies in at the winder,
champeenships fly up the chimbley--never t' come back no more. So beware
o' wives, me lad."

"Wives!" repeated the Spider, lifting free hand to dazed brow, "I--I
ain't never--"

"That's right!" nodded the Old Un heartily, shaking the Spider's
unresisting hand again, "marriage ain't love, an' love ain't marriage.
Wot's the old song say:

"'Oh, love is like a bloomin' rose
But marriage is a bloomin' thorn.
An 'usband 's full o' bloomin' woes
An' 'caves a bloomin' sigh each morn--'"

"Why, Old Un!" exclaimed Ravenslee, "that's a very remarkable verse!"