“‘E was makin’ Perry Davis’ Pain Killer for them at ‘ome who wouldn’t send Gordon ‘elp when the ‘eathen was at ‘is doors a ‘underd to one. ‘E was makin’ it for them to soothe their bloomin’ pains an’ sorrers when Gordon an’ Macnamara ‘ad cried ‘elp! for the lawst toime!”
“Aw’ve taken off ma hat to Goordon’s nevvy-he be a fine man-head for macheens he has”—Holgate’s eyes dwelt on his engine lovingly; “but aw’ve heerd nowt o’ Macnamara-never nowt o’ him. Who was Macnamara?”
“‘E was the bloomin’ flower of the flock-’e was my pal as took service in the Leave-me-alone-to-die Regiment at Khartoum.”
“Aw’ve never read o’ Macnamara. Dost think tha’ll ever know how he went?”
“I ain’t sayin’ ‘as ‘e went, an’ I ain’t thinkin’ as ‘e went. I’m waitin’ like a bloomin’ telegarpher at the end of a wire. ‘E was the pick o’ fifteen ‘underd men was Macnamara.”
“What sent t’ laad to Goordon?”
“A-talkin’ of ‘isself silly to two lydies at onct.”
“Aye, theer’s the floower o’ the flock. Breakin’ hearts an’ spoilin’ lives—aw’ve seen them floowers bloomin’.”
“‘E didn’t break no witherin’ ‘earts, an’ ‘e didn’t spoil no lives. The lydies was both married afore Macnamara got as far as Wady Halfar. ‘E break ‘earts—not much! ‘E went to Khartoum to be quiet.”
“Aw’m pityin’ the laads that married them lasses.”