```No matter what strange countries boast; ``No blessings are there, that can ever compare; ```With our home in thy sea-girdled coast. ```Then here's to thyself, thou wee bonny land, ````Here's a bumper, old England, to thee, ```Brave sons and fair daughters shall join heart and `````hand, ````And sing "Ho, for the land of the free!"= ``If we grumble sometimes as all Englishmen will, ```And in politics fight tooth and nail; ``When hard times are pinching and trade standing still, ```If at government's tactics we rail; ``There's no rash outsider who dares interfere, ```Or he'll find to his cost if he tries; ``That our flag's independence to each one is dear, ```For there's freedom where ever it flies. ````Then here's to thyself, thou dearly loved land, `````Here's a bumper, old England, to thee; ````Dizzy, Gladstone and Bright in one theme can `````unite ````And sing, "Ho, for the land of the free!"= ``If the world's all upset, and war's terrors abound, ```And tott'ring thrones threaten to fall; ``Thy Lion on guard, keeps his watch all around, ```And his growl gives a warning to all. ``They have seen his mane bristle, and heard his deep `````roar, ```And his grip, once felt, none will forget; ``And although he's grown older he's strong as of yore, ```And he's king of the world even yet! ````Then here's to thyself thou wee bonny land, `````Here's a bumper, old England, to thee; ```Thou hast nothing to fear, whilst our hearts hold `````thee dear ````Then "Hurrah! for the land of the free!"= We stept ashore an' th' train wor waitin. Dover wor a strange place to me but still it felt like hooam--aw gat into a comfortable carriage, lained mi heead back o' th' cushin an' when aw wakkened we wor at Lundun. [Illustration: 0136] CHAPTER X. MARDI [Illustration: 9136] T wor seven o'clock ith' mornin when we arrived at Victoria Station--an' as we wanted to get ooam withaat loisin ony time we tuk a cab to King's Cross. It wor a breet clear mornin' an' as we rattled along th' streets, ivvery buildin lukt like an' old friend, an' th' same feelin' coom ovver me at awve soa oft felt befoor--what had passed seemed mich moor like a dreeam nor a reality. Aw noaticed at Billy put on some airs at awd nivver seen him spooart befoor, an' if aw had'nt known him aw mud ha mistakken him for Beaconsfield commin back after signin th' Berlin treaty, but then he's a deal bigger man nor Beaconsfield is Billy, an' if his influence isnt as big ith' city, he's weightier ith' corporation. But awm sewer he lukt better bi monny a paand nor when we started. When we gat to th' station we fan at we'd a bit o' time to spend befoor ther wor a train soa we went an' gate a cup o' coffee an' summat to ait. "Nah, Billy," aw sed, "aw should like to know if tha's enjoyed thi trip?"