Mr Ibbs said, ''Very well, my tulip.'' The boys did not answer. Phil said, to no-one, ''Come in the back way, did he?1—and another boy laughed.
Boys like that always think that men like Gentleman are nancies.
John laughed too, but louder than the others. Gentleman looked at him. ''Hallo, you little tick,'' he said. ''Lost your monkey?''
John''s cheek being so sallow, everyone always took him for an Italian. Now, hearing Gentleman, he put his finger to his nose. ''You can kiss my arse,'' he said.▃思▃兔▃網▃文▃檔▃共▃享▃與▃在▃線▃閱▃讀▃
''Can I?'' said Gentleman, smiling. He winked at Dainty, and she ducked her head. ''Hallo, charmer,'' he said. Then he stooped to Charley Wag, and pulled his ears. ''Hallo, you Wagster. Where''s police? Hey? Where''s police? See ''em off!'' Charley Wag went wild. ''Good boy/ said Gentleman, rising, brushing off hairs. ''Good boy. That will do.''
Then he went and stood at Mrs Sucksby''s chair.
''Hallo, Mrs S,'' he said.
The baby, now, had had a dose of gin, and had cried itself quiet. Mrs Sucksby held out her hand. Gentleman caught it up and kissed | it—first at the knuckles, and then at the tips. Mrs Sucksby said,
''Get up out of that chair, John, and let Gentleman sit down.''
John looked like thunder for a minute, then rose and took Dainty''s stool. Gentleman sat, and spread his legs towards