"We're a-going to make a lady of her," he said, drawing the child's
shy face against his gaudy waistcoat, and running his coarse hand
through her pretty curls; "and she shall marry a jockey when she
grows up."
After supper he brewed some excellent whisky punch, and insisted
upon the old lady joining us, which she eventually did with much
coughing and protestation; but I noticed that she finished the
tumblerful. For the children he concocted a marvellous mixture,
which he called an "eye-composer," the chief ingredients being hot
lemonade, ginger wine, sugar, oranges, and raspberry vinegar. It
had the desired effect.
I stayed till late, listening to his inexhaustible fund of stories.
Over most of them he laughed with us himself--a great gusty laugh
that made the cheap glass ornaments upon the mantelpiece to
tremble; but now and then a recollection came to him that spread a
sudden gravity across his jovial face, bringing a curious quaver
into his deep voice.
Their tongues a little loosened by the punch, the old folks would
have sung his praises to the verge of tediousness had he not almost
sternly interrupted them.
Pages:
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215