whuzzamatter now -- thass why I'm here! Hadda come
away an' leave Kitty -- hic -- left her cryin', too -- whujja
think of that, ole sport? 'Lemme go, Kittens,' says I --
'come early an' often -- I go where duty -- hic -- calls me.
Farewell, farewell, my own true love -- farewell, fare-
we-hell, my-own-true-love!'"

This last was a song, and the young gentleman's voice
rose mournful and wailing, while he swung upon Jurgis's
neck. The latter was glancing about nervously, lest some
one should approach. They were still alone, however.

"But I came all right, all right," continued the young~
ster, aggressively. "I can -- hic -- I can have my own
way when I want it, by Harry -- Freddie Jones is a hard
man to handle when he gets goin'! 'No, sir,' says I,
'by thunder, and I don't need anybody goin' home with
me, either -- whujja take me for, hey? Think I'm drunk,
dontcha, hey? -- I know you! But I'm no more drunk
than you are, Kittens,' says I to her. And then says she,
'Thass true, Freddie dear' (she's a smart one, is Kitty),
'but I'm stayin' in the flat, an' you're goin' out into the
cold, cold night!' 'Put it in a pome, lovely Kitty,' says
I. 'No jokin', Freddie, my boy,' says she. 'Lemme
call a cab now, like a good dear' -- but I can call my own
cabs, dontcha fool yourself -- I know what I'm a-doin',
you bet! Say, my fren', whatcha say -- willye come home
an' see me, an' hassome supper? Come 'long like a good
feller -- don't be haughty! You're up against it, same
as me, an' you can unerstan' a feller; your heart's in the
right place, by Harry -- come 'long, ole chappie, an' we'll
light up the house, an' have some fizz, an' we'll raise hell,
we will -- whoop-la! S'long's I'm inside the house I can
do as I please -- the guv'ner's own very orders, b'God!
Hip! hip!"

They had started down the street, arm in arm, the young
man pushing Jurgis along, half dazed. Jurgis was try~
ing to think what to do -- he knew he could not pass any
crowded place with his new acquaintance without attract~
ing attention and being stopped. It was only because of
the falling snow that people who passed here did not notice
anything wrong.

[[280]]

p279 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p280w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p281

v?