--You in number two, don't grind them teeth of
yours. Worse manners,' said the hangman, rapping at the door with his
stick, 'I never see in this place afore. I'm ashamed of you. You're a
disgrace to the Bailey.'
After pausing for a moment to hear if anything could be pleaded in
justification, Mr Dennis resumed in a sort of coaxing tone:
'Now look'ee here, you four. I'm come here to take care of you, and see
that you an't burnt, instead of the other thing. It's no use your making
any noise, for you won't be found out by them as has broken in, and
you'll only be hoarse when you come to the speeches,--which is a pity.
What I say in respect to the speeches always is, "Give it mouth." That's
my maxim. Give it mouth. I've heerd,' said the hangman, pulling off his
hat to take his handkerchief from the crown and wipe his face, and then
putting it on again a little more on one side than before, 'I've heerd a
eloquence on them boards--you know what boards I mean--and have heerd
a degree of mouth given to them speeches, that they was as clear as a
bell, and as good as a play. There's a pattern! And always, when a thing
of this natur's to come off, what I stand up for, is, a proper frame of
mind.
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