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A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY 37
Mr. Brandon, " Your very good health."
Mr, Swigby. "Thank you, Gann. Here's to you, and long
life and prosperity and happiness to you and yours. Bless you,
Jim my boy; Heaven bless you! I say this, Mr. Bandon—
Brandon—what's your name—there ain't a better fellow in all
Margate than James Gann,—no, nor in all England. Here's Mrs.
Gann, gents, and the family. MRS. GANN !" (drinks).
Mr, Brandon, " MRS. GANN. Hip, hip, hurrah !" (drinks).
Mr, Gann. "Mrs. Gann, and thank you, gents. A fine
woman, Mr. B.; ain't she now ? Ah, if you'd seen 'er when I
married her ! Gad, she was fine then—an out and outer, sir !
Such a figure !"
Mr. Swigby. "You'd choose none but a good 'un, I war'nt.
Ha, ha, ha !"
Mr. Gann. "Did I ever tell you of my duel along with the
regimental doctor ? No ! Then I will. I was a young chap, you
see, in those days; and when I saw her at Brussels—(Brusell,
they call it)—I was right slick up over head and ears in love with
her at once. But what was to be done 1 There was another gent
in the case—a regimental doctor, sir—a reg'lar dragon. 'Faint
heart,' 'says I, 'never won a fair lady,' and so I made so bold.
She took me, sent the doctor to the right about. I met him one
morning in the park at Brussels, and stood to him, sir, like a man.
When the affair was over, my second, a leftenant of dragoons, told
me, 'Gann,' says he, 'I've seen many a man under fire—I'm a
Waterloo man,' says he,—'and have rode by Wellington many a
long day; but I never, for coolness, see such a man as you.'
Gents, here's the Duke of Wellington and the British army !" (the
gents drink).
Mr. Brandon. " Did you kill the doctor, sir ?"
Mr. Gann. " Why, no, sir ; I shot in the hair."
Mr. Brandon. " Shot him in the hair ! Egad, that was a
severe shot, and a very lucky escape the doctor had of it ? Whereabout
in the hair ? a whisker, sir ; or, perhaps, a pigtail ?"
Mr, Swigby, " Haw, haw, haw ! shot'n in the hair—capital,
capital !"
Mr. Gann (who has grown very red). " No, sir, there may be
some mistake in my pronunciation, which I didn't expect to have
laughed at, at my hown table."
Mr, Brandon, " My dear sir ! I protest and vow ________ "
Mr. Gann. "Never mind it, sir. I gave you my best, and
did my best to make you welcome. If you like better to make
fun of me, do, sir. That may be the genteel way, but hang me if
it's hour way ; is it, Jack? Our way ; I beg your pardon, sir."