“Ah, now, Dan, old pal,” Jem Fortune said. “Take it easy there.”
“It’s only a song,” someone else said.
A few other voices joined in the persuasion, telling him to calm himself, that no offence was intended but others, those who’d quite welcome a fight to finish off the evening’s entertainment, said nothing. Tipsy’s eyes were locked onto Dan’s and not a sign of apology on him. Peg couldn’t believe it of him. Usually Tipsy didn’t know what to think, never mind what to do, until someone told him.
Agnes Whitty leaned across and tried to whisper in Dan’s ear but he pulled away. “I’m not letting any fucker call me a traitor,” he shouted and he jumped out of his seat at Tipsy and made a go at him. It was a drunken, half-hearted effort and easy for the other boys to hold him back.
“Let him go
