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Then I gits red as 'ell, "That is—I mean,"
I sez, "I might 'a' never met Doreen
If 'e 'ad not"—an' 'ere I lose me block—
"I 'ope," I sez, "'E snuffed it quick and clean."
An' that wus 'ow I made me first deboo.
I'd dodged it cunnin' fer a month or two.
Doreen she sez, " You'll 'ave to meet my Mar,
Some day," she sez. An' so I seen it thro'.
I'd pictered some stern female in a cap
Wot puts the fear o' Gawd into a chap.
An' 'ere she wus, aweepin' in 'er tea
An' drippin' moistcher like a leeky tap.
Two dilly sort o' dawgs made out o' delf
Stares 'ard at me frum orf the mantelshelf.
I seemed to symperthise wiv them there pups;
I felt so stiff an' brittle-like meself.
Clobber? Me trosso, 'ead to foot, wus noo—
Got up regardless, fer this interview.
Stiff shirt, a Yankee soot split up the back,
A tie wiv yeller spots an' stripes o' blue.
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