“I’ve been to Paris, and I’ve been to Do-ho-ver,
I’ve been a travelling all the world o-ho-ver.
Over and over, and over, and o-ho-ver,
So drink up yer licker and turn the bowl o-ho-ver.”
“Don’t, don’t, don’t, Shock,” I cried passionately. “I can’t bear it;” and I again covered my face with my hands, and crouched lower and lower, listening to the trickling of the sand that seemed to be flowing in like water to take up all the space we had left.
Suddenly I started, for a hand touched me.
“Is that you, Shock?”
“Yes. Mind my coming and sitting along o’ you? I ain’t so werry dirty now.”
“Mind? no,” I said: “it will be company.”
“Yes,” he said. “It’s werry dark and werry quiet like, ain’t it?”
“Yes, very.”
“Ain’t Ike a long time?”
“Yes,” I said despairingly, for I began to wonder whether we should be found.