“ Men can’t stand on being respectful when their houses are going to be burnt over their heads, with them in ‘em. ”
Charles Dickens, Barnaby Rudge (1841). copy citation
| Author | Charles Dickens |
|---|---|
| Source | Barnaby Rudge |
| Topic | house burning |
| Date | 1841 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/917/917-h/917-h.htm |
Context
“‘You are disrespectable, sir,’ said the Lord Mayor—‘leastways, disrespectful I mean.’
‘Disrespectful, my lord!’ returned the old gentleman. ‘I was respectful five times yesterday. I can’t be respectful for ever. Men can’t stand on being respectful when their houses are going to be burnt over their heads, with them in ‘em. What am I to do, my lord? AM I to have any protection!’
‘I told you yesterday, sir,’ said the Lord Mayor, ‘that you might have an alderman in your house, if you could get one to come.’
‘What the devil’s the good of an alderman?’ returned the choleric old gentleman.”
source
