Barnaby Rudge: a tale of the Riots of 'eighty by Charles Dickens
page 39 of 910 (04%)
page 39 of 910 (04%)
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or slightly respected part in the social gossip round the Maypole fire.
'I wish he may be an honest man, that's all,' said Solomon, winding up a variety of speculations relative to the stranger, concerning whom Gabriel had compared notes with the company, and so raised a grave discussion; 'I wish he may be an honest man.' 'So we all do, I suppose, don't we?' observed the locksmith. 'I don't,' said Joe. 'No!' cried Gabriel. 'No. He struck me with his whip, the coward, when he was mounted and I afoot, and I should be better pleased that he turned out what I think him.' 'And what may that be, Joe?' 'No good, Mr Varden. You may shake your head, father, but I say no good, and will say no good, and I would say no good a hundred times over, if that would bring him back to have the drubbing he deserves.' 'Hold your tongue, sir,' said John Willet. 'I won't, father. It's all along of you that he ventured to do what he did. Seeing me treated like a child, and put down like a fool, HE plucks up a heart and has a fling at a fellow that he thinks--and may well think too--hasn't a grain of spirit. But he's mistaken, as I'll show him, and as I'll show all of you before long.' |
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