Page:The moods of Ginger Mick.djvu/128

 120 A gallant gentleman! Well, I dunno. I 'ardly think that Mick ud like that name. But this 'ere Trent's a toff, an' ort to know The breedin' uv the stock frum which 'e came. Gallant an' game Mick might 'a' bin; but then— Lord! Fancy 'im among the gentlemen!

'E wus a man; that's good enough fer me, 'Oo wus 'is cobber many years before 'E writ it plain fer other blokes to see, An' proved it good an' plenty at the war. 'E wus a man; an', by the way 'e died, 'E wus a man 'is friend kin claim wiv pride.

The way 'e died... Gawd! but it makes me proud I ever 'eld 'is 'and, to read that tale. An' Trent is one uv that 'igh-steppin' crowd That don't sling praise around be ev'ry mail. To 'im it seemed some great 'eroic lurk; But Mick, I know, jist took it wiv 'is work.

No matter wot 'e done. It's jist a thing I knoo 'e'd do if once 'e got the show. An' it would never please 'im fer to sling Tall tork at 'im jist 'cos 'e acted so. "Don't make a song uv it!" I 'ear 'im growl, "I've done me limit, an' tossed in the tow'l."