hole shing
fallsh on us. Understand? We musht do everyshing. Understand? Country
'spects every man to do his duty. Undershtand?"

Abe sank down on a bench, leaned his head against the wall, and looked
at his companion with one eye closed wearily.

"Yesshir," Kent resumed, summoning up a new supply of oratorical energy,
and an official gravity beneath which his legs trembled. "Name shis
town's London. Shame name's big town 'cross ocean. Lots history c'nected
wish name. Shtacks an' cords of it. Old times when King went out t'meet
him, wish shtyle pile on bigger'n a haystack. Fact. Clothes finer'n a
peacock. Tendered him keys, freed'm city. All shat short shing. Ver'
impreshive shpectacle. Everybody felt better'n for improvin' sight.
Undershtand? We'll be Lord Mayor and train for shis London. We can rig
out right here. Our trouseau's here in shis hair trunk."

"Shall we get anyshing t' drink?" inquired Abe making a temporary
collection of his wits with a violent effort.

"Abe!" the freezing severity of Kent's tone and manner would have
been hopelessly fatal to early vegetables. "Abe you've many good
qualities--more of 'em shan any man I know, but a degrading passion
fur shtrong drink is ruinin' you. I'm your besht fren, an' shay it
wish tearsh in m' eyes. Lemme beg o' you t' reform ere it ish too late.
Beware of it, my fren, beware of it. It shtingeth like a serpent, an'
biteth like a multiplier--I mean an adder. You haven't got my shuperb
self-control, an' so yer only shafety lies in total abstinence. Cheese
it, my fren, cheese it on she sheductive but fatal lush."

"Are we goin' out t' meet she boysh?" inquired Abe.

"Shertainly we are. Yesshir. An' we're goin' out ash I proposed. Yer
a shplendid feller, Abe," continued Kent, with lofty patronage. "A
shplendid feller, an' do great credit t' yer 'portunities. But y'
haven't had my 'dvantages of mingling constantly in p'lite s'ciety,
y'know. Rough diamond, I know, 'nall that short o' shing, but lack
polish an' easy grace. So I'll be th' Lord Mayor, an' y'll be th' train.
Undershtand?"

He lurched forward, and came near falling over the chair, but recovering
he stiffened up and gazed on that useful article of furniture with a
sternness that implied his belief that it was a rascally blackleg trying
to insinuate itself into the circle of refinement and chaste elegance of
which he was the particular ornament.

"Come," he resumed, "le's bedizen ourselves; le's assume t