‘How about the brandy, Roger?’

’I’ll come to that presently.  I’ll tell you about the brandy in good time.  But that thing in my left hand is a spade.  Now, I never handled a spade, and never could; but, boys, I handled a chisel and mallet; and many a hundred block of stone has come out smooth from under that hand;’ and Sir Roger lifted up his great broad palm wide open.

‘So you did, Roger, and well we minds it.’

’The meaning, however, of that spade is to show that I made the railway.  Now I’m very much obliged to those gentlemen over at the White Horse for putting up this picture of me.  It’s a true picture, and it tells you who I am.  I did make that railway.  I have made thousands of miles of railway; I am making thousands of miles railways—­some in Europe, some in Asia, some in America.  It’s a true picture,’ and he poked his stick right through it and held it up to the crowd.  ’A true picture:  but for that spade and that railway, I shouldn’t be now here asking your votes; and, when next February comes, I shouldn’t be sitting in Westminster to represent you, as by God’s grace, I certainly will do.  That tells you who I am.  But now, will you tell me who Mr Moffat is?’

‘How about the brandy, Roger?’

’Oh, yes, the brandy!  I was forgetting that and the little speech that is coming out of my mouth—­a deal shorter speech, and a better one than what I am making now.  Here, in the right hand you see a brandy bottle.  Well, boys, I am not ashamed of that; as long as a man does his work—­and the spade shows that—­it’s only fair he should have something to comfort him.  I’m always able to work, and few men work much harder.  I’m always able to work, and no man has a right to expect more of me.  I never expect more than that from those who work for me.’

’No more you don’t, Roger:  a little drop’s very good, ain’t it, Roger?  Keeps the cold from the stomach, eh, Roger?’

’Then as to this speech, “Come, Jack, let’s have a drop of some’at short”.  Why, that’s a good speech too.  When I do drink I like to share with a friend; and I don’t care how humble that friend is.’

’Hurrah! more power.  That’s true too, Roger; may you never be without a drop to wet your whistle.’

’They say I’m the last new baronet.  Well, I ain’t ashamed of that; not a bit.  When will Mr Moffat get himself made a baronet?  No man can truly say I’m too proud of it.  I have never stuck myself up; no, nor stuck my wife up either:  but I don’t see much to be ashamed of because the bigwigs chose to make a baronet of me.’

’Nor, no more thee h’ant, Roger.  We’d all be barrownites if so be we knew the way.’