y before, and then
walked about, not knowing what to do with themselves.

Sam got tired of it fust, and catching Ginger's eye said he thought it
was time to get 'ome in case too much enjoyment wasn't good for 'em. His
idea was to get off with Ginger and make a night of it, and when 'e found
Peter and his uncle was coming too, he began to think that things was
looking serious.

"I don't want to spile your evening," he says, very perlite. "I must get
'ome to mend a pair o' trowsis o' mine, but there's no need for you to
come."

"I'll come and watch you," ses Peter's uncle.

"And then I'm going off to bed early," ses Sam. "Me, too," ses Ginger,
and Peter said he could hardly keep 'is eyes open.

They got on a bus, and as Sam was about to foller Ginger and Peter on
top, Mr. Goodman took hold of 'im by the arm and said they'd go inside.
He paid two penny fares, and while Sam was wondering 'ow to tell 'im that
it would be threepence each, the bus stopped to take up a passenger and
he got up and moved to the door.

"They've gone up there," he ses, pointing.

Afore Sam could stop 'im he got off, and Sam, full o' surprise, got off
too, and follered 'im' on to the pavement.

"Who's gone up there?" he ses, as the bus went on agin.

"Peter and Mr. Ginger Dick," ses Mr. Good-man. "But don't you trouble.
You go 'ome and mend your trowsis."

"But they're on the bus," ses Sam, staring. "Dick and Peter, I mean."

Mr. Goodman shook his 'ead.

"They got off. Didn't you see 'em?" he ses. "No," ses Sam, "I'll swear
they didn't."

"Well, it's my mistake, I s'pose," ses Peter's uncle. "But you get off
home; I'm not tired yet, and I'll walk."

Sam said 'e wasn't very tired, and he walked along wondering whether Mr.
Goodman was quite right in his 'ead. For one thing, 'e seemed upset
about something or other, and kept taking little peeps at 'im in a way he
couldn't understand at all.

"It was nice tea we 'ad this arternoon," ses Mr. Goodman at last.

"De-licious," ses Sam.

"Trust a teetotaller for knowing good tea," ses Mr. Goodman. "I expect
Peter enjoyed it. I s'pose 'e is a very strict teetotaller?"

"Strict ain't the word for it," ses Sam, trying to do 'is duty by Peter.
"We all are."

"That's right," ses Mr. Goodman, and he pushed his 'at back and looked at
Sam very serious. They walked on a bit further, and then Peter's uncle
stopped sudden just as they was passing a large public-'ouse and looked
at