i’stead o’ junk, and beds i’stead o’ hammocks. (I make naught o’ t’ sentiment side, for I were niver gi’en up to such carnal-mindedness and poesies.) It’s noane fair to cotch ’em up and put ’em in a stifling hole, all lined with metal for fear they should whittle their way out, and send ’em off to sea for years an’ years to come.  And again it’s no fair play to t’ French.  Four o’ them is rightly matched wi’ one o’ us; and if we go an’ fight ’em four to four it’s like as if yo’ fell to beatin’ Sylvie there, or little Billy Croxton, as isn’t breeched.  And that’s my mind.  Missus, where’s t’ pipe?’

Philip did not smoke, so took his turn at talking, a chance he seldom had with Daniel, unless the latter had his pipe between his lips.  So after Daniel had filled it, and used Sylvia’s little finger as a stopper to ram down the tobacco—­a habit of his to which she was so accustomed that she laid her hand on the table by him, as naturally as she would have fetched him his spittoon when he began to smoke—­Philip arranged his arguments, and began—­

‘I’m for fair play wi’ the French as much as any man, as long as we can be sure o’ beating them; but, I say, make sure o’ that, and then give them ivery advantage.  Now I reckon Government is not sure as yet, for i’ the papers it said as half th’ ships i’ th’ Channel hadn’t got their proper complement o’ men; and all as I say is, let Government judge a bit for us; and if they say they’re hampered for want o’ men, why we must make it up somehow.  John and Jeremiah Foster pay in taxes, and Militiaman pays in person; and if sailors cannot pay in taxes, and will not pay in person, why they must be made to pay; and that’s what th’ press-gang is for, I reckon.  For my part, when I read o’ the way those French chaps are going on, I’m thankful to be governed by King George and a British Constitution.’

Daniel took his pipe out of his mouth at this.

’And when did I say a word again King George and the Constitution?  I only ax ’em to govern me as I judge best, and that’s what I call representation.  When I gived my vote to Measter Cholmley to go up to t’ Parliament House, I as good as said, ‘Now yo’ go up theer, sir, and tell ’em what I, Dannel Robson, think right, and what I, Dannel Robson, wish to have done.’  Else I’d be darned if I’d ha’ gi’en my vote to him or any other man.  And div yo’ think I want Seth Robson ( as is my own brother’s son, and mate to a collier) to be cotched up by a press-gang, and ten to one his wages all unpaid?  Div yo’ think I’d send up Measter Cholmley to speak up for that piece o’ work?  Not I.’  He took up his pipe again, shook out the ashes, puffed it into a spark, and shut his eyes, preparatory to listening.

’But, asking pardon, laws is made for the good of the nation, not for your good or mine.’

Daniel could not stand this.  He laid down his pipe, opened his eyes, stared straight at Philip before speaking, in order to enforce his words, and then said slowly—­