“You never know how to take people like that. The words ’ad ’ardly left Tom’s lips afore the other ups with a basin of ’ot tea and heaves it all over ’im.
“‘Take that, you insulting rascal,’ he ses, as Tom jumped up spluttering and wiping ’is face with his coat. ‘How dare you insult me?’
“‘Get up,’ ses Tom, dancing with rage. ‘Get up; prize-fighter or no prize-fighter, I’ll mark you.’
“‘Sit down,’ ses Bill, turning round.
“I’m going to ’ave a go at ’im, Bill,’ ses Tom; ‘if you’re afraid of ’im, I ain’t.’
“‘Sit down,’ ses Bill, starting up. ‘’Ow dare you insult me like that?’
“‘Like wot?’ ses Tom, staring.
“‘If I can’t lick ’im you can’t,’ ses Bill; ‘that’s ‘ow it is, mate.’
“‘But I can try,’ ses Tom.
“‘All right,’ ses Bill. ‘Me fust, then if you lick me, you can ’ave a go at ’im. If you can’t lick me, ‘ow can you lick ’im?’