ot was sitting on his bed with Ginger waiting for
them, the moment he got inside, and all Ginger and Peter could say didn't
make any difference.

"Mr. Small see you as plain as what I did," he ses.

"Plainer," ses Sam.

"But I tell you we come straight 'ome," ses Ginger, "and we've been
waiting for you 'ere ever since."

Mr. Goodman shook his 'ead at 'im. "Say no more about it," he ses, in a
kind voice. "I dessay it's rather tiresome for young men to go about
with two old ones, and in future, if you and Peter keep together, me and
my friend Mr. Small will do the same."

Sam shook 'ands with 'im, and though Peter tried his 'ardest to make 'im
alter his mind it was no good. His uncle patted 'im on the shoulder, and
said they'd try it for a few days, at any rate, and Ginger, wot thought
it was a very good idea, backed 'im up. Everybody seemed pleased with
the idea except Peter Russet, but arter Sam 'ad told 'im in private wot a
high opinion 'is uncle 'ad got of 'im, and 'ow well off he was, 'e gave
way.

They all enjoyed the next evening, and Sam and Mr. Goodman got on
together like twin brothers. They went to a place of amusement every
night, and the on'y unpleasantness that happened was when Peter's uncle
knocked a chemist's shop up at a quarter-past twelve one night to buy a
penn'orth o' peppermint lozenges.

They 'ad four of the 'appiest evenings together that Sam 'ad ever known;
and Mr. Goodman would 'ave been just as 'appy too if it hadn't ha' been
for the thoughts o' that five pounds. The more 'e thought of it the more
unlikely it seemed that 'is wife would blame it on to the sweep, and one
night he took the match-box out of 'is pocket and shook his 'ead over it
till Sam felt quite sorry for 'im.

"Don't take up your troubles afore they come," he ses. "Orsepittles are
dangerous places."

Mr. Goodman cheered up a bit at that, but he got miserable agin the next
night because 'is money was getting low and he wanted another week in
London.

"I've got seven shillings and fourpence and two stamps left," he ses.
"Where it's all gone to I can't think."

"Don't you worry about that," ses Sam. "I've got a pound or two left
yet."

"No, I ain't going to be a burden on you," ses Mr. Goodman, "but another
week I must 'ave, so I must get the money somehow. Peter can't spend
much, the way he goes on."

Sam gave a little cough.

"I'll get a pound or two out of 'im," ses Mr. Goodman.

Sam coughed agin.