XV

Theere! I ha' master'd them! Hed I married the Tommies—O Lord,

To loove an' obaäy the Tommies! I couldn't 'a stuck by my word.

To be horder'd about, an' waäked, when Molly 'd put out the light,

By a man coomin' in wi' a hiccup at ony hour o' the night!

An' the taäble staäin'd wi' 'is aäle, an' the mud o' 'is boots o' the stairs,

An' the stink o' 'is pipe i' the 'ouse, an' the mark o' 'is 'eäd o' the chairs!

An' noun o' my four sweet-arts 'ud 'a let me 'a led my oän waäy,

Sa I likes 'em best wi' taäils when they 'evn't a word to saäy.