"He said, 'I would rather have a plain, russet-coated captain who knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than what you call a gentleman.' And he was right, eh ?" "God knows," said Ralph, and turned aside.
He had stopped to look into the middle of a small crowd that had gathered about the corner of the Bridge Lane.

A blind fiddler sat on a stool there and played sprightly airs.

His hearers consisted chiefly of men and boys.

But among them was one young girl in bright ribbons, who was clearly an outcast of the streets.

Despite her gay costume, she had a wistful look in her dark eyes, as of one who was on the point of breaking into tears.
The dance tunes suddenly came to an end, and were followed by the long and solemn sweeps of a simple old hymn such as had been known in many an English home for many an age.