I'd ha' sung for nothin'-- 'deed, and I'd ha' paid oot ma own good siller to get a turn at one of the big halls.
I had a London agent by that time, a mannie who booked engagements for me in the provinces.

That was his specialty; he did little business in London itself.

He was a decent body; he'd got me the week in Birkenhead, and I liked him fine.

When I went to his office he jumped up and shook hands with me.
"Glad to see you, Lauder," he said.

"Wish more of you singers and performers from the provinces would run up to London for a visit from time to time." "I'm no precisely here on a veesit," I said, rather dryly.