There was a large crowd assembled in the Market Place, in
which were the Liberator's lodgings, many of them armed in
their rude fashion, and all anxious to march. Devilsdust was
with the great man and Field; Mick below was marshalling the
men, and swearing like a trooper at all who disobeyed or who
misunderstood.
"Come stupid," said he addressing Tummas, "what are you
staring about? Get your men in order or I'll be among you."
"Stupid!" said Tummas, staring at Mick with immense
astonishment. "And who are you who says 'Stupid?' A white-
livered Handloom as I dare say, or a son of a gun of a factory
slave. Stupid indeed! What next, when a Hell-cat is to be
called stupid by such a thing as you?"
"I'll give you a piece of advice young man," said Master Nixon
taking his pipe out of his mouth and blowing an immense puff;
"just you go down the shaft for a couple of months, and then
you'll learn a little of life, which is wery useful."
The lively temperament of the Dandy would here probably have
involved him in an inconvenient embroilment had not some one
at this moment touched him on the shoulder, and looking round
he recognised Mr Morley. Notwithstanding the difference of
their political schools Mick had a profound respect for
Morley, though why he could not perhaps precisely express.
Pages:
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671