"Rippin'," ses Peter, holding 'is pipe tight between 'is teeth.  "You owe me 'arf a dollar, Ginger." 

     "Where'd you go?"  ses Ginger, passing it over. 

     "Crystal Pallis," ses Peter. 

     "Are you going to take 'er out to-morrow?"  ses Sam. 

     "I don't think so," ses Peter, taking 'is pipe out of 'is mouth and yawning.  "She's rather too young for me; I like talking to gals wot's a bit older. I won't stand in Ginger's way." 

     "I found 'er a bit young too," ses Ginger.  "P'r'aps we'd better let Sam's nevy 'ave 'er. Arter all it's a bit rough on 'im when you come to think of it." 

     "You're quite right," ses Peter, jumping up.  "It's Sam's business, and why we should go out of our way and inconvenience ourselves to do 'im a good turn, I don't know." 

     "It's Sam all over," ses Ginger; "he's always been like that, and the more you try to oblige 'im, the more you may." 

     They went on abusing Sam till he got sick and tired of it, and arter telling 'em wot he thought of 'em he slammed the door and went out and spent the evening by 'imself. He would 'ardly speak to them next day, but arter tea he brightened up a bit and they went off together as if nothing 'ad happened, and the fust thing they saw as they turned out of their street was Sam's nevy coming along smiling till it made their faces ache to look at him. 

     "I was just coming to see you," he ses. 

     "We're just off on business," ses Ginger. 

     "I wasn't going to stop," ses the nevy; "my young lady just told me to step along and show uncle wot she has bought me. A silver watch and chain and a gold ring. Look at it!" 

     He held his 'and under Ginger's nose, and Ginger stood there looking at it and opening and shutting 'is mouth like a dying fish. Then he took Peter by the arm and led'im away while the nevy was opening 'is new watch and showing Sam the works. 

     "'Ow much did she get out of you, Peter?"  ses Ginger, looking at 'im very hard.  "I don't want any lies." 

 Prev. P 10/11 next