“Well, Sergeant, I’m well-nigh tired of my life, and I’ve come here to enlist.”
“Just wait a bit,” said the Sergeant; “I’m not a man to do things in a hurry. I never allow a man to enlist, if I know it, in Her Majesty’s service, honourable and jolly as it is, without asking him to think about it.”
“Hear, hear!” said Lazyman; “that’s good, I likes that; don’t be in a hurry, lad.”
“Hear, hear!” says Outofwork, “don’t jump into a job too soon, yer medn’t like it.”
“Hear, hear!” says the Boardman, “walk round a-bit.”
“But,” said Harry, “I have considered it. I’ve just had education enough to prevent my getting a living, and not enough to make a man of me: I’ve tried everything and nobody wants me.”
“Then,” said Sergeant Goodtale, “do you think the Queen only wants them that nobody else’ll have. I can tell you that ain’t the Queen of England’s way. It might do for Rooshia or Germany, or them countries, but not for Old England. It’s a free country. I think, lads, I’m right—”
Here there was tremendous hammering on the table by way of assent and applause; amidst which Joe could be observed thumping his hard fist with as much vehemence as if he had got a County Magistrate’s head under it.
“This is a free country, sir,” said the Sergeant, “no man here is kidnapped into the Army, which is a profession for men, not slaves.”
“I’m going to join,” said Harry, “say what you like.”