"Well, I don't know as I can 'xactly say that, sir. There is some among the men as has too much sense to be altogether so easy bamboozled with a lot of clap-trap. But any way, they do like uncommon to hear it all. Sort of tickles and soothes 'em, you know."
"Was Holdfast there?"
"I've a notion not, but I ain't sure. Any way, he's spoke up bravely once, and I make no doubt he'll do it again. I'm not sure as I won't take up the line myself some day."
"Which line?" Mr. Hughes asked.
"Speechifying, sir, for the good of them as is ignorant," Peter said loftily.
"You think you have a gift that way?"
Peter scratched his head, divided between modesty and assurance.
"Well, sir, my old mother, she were knowing and no mistake, and she'd used to say I had a gift for most things, whatever I chose to take up."
"Perhaps a little practice beforehand would be advisable, before adventuring yourself in public," suggested Mr. Hughes.
"Just the werry identical same conclusion as I comed to myself," asserted Peter. "Nothing in the world like practice for giving of a man confidence, sir. And it's confidence as does it. It ain't the gift only; it's confidence, and practice leads to confidence."