They ’ad their guesses, and then they went in and asked, and as soon as Gerty found that it was only three-and-sixpence she began to feel in her pocket for ’er purse, just like your wife does when you go out with ’er, knowing all the time that it’s on the mantelpiece with twopence-ha’penny and a cough lozenge in it.

“I must ha’ left it at ’ome,” she ses, looking at George.

“Just wot I’ve done,” ses George, arter patting ’is pockets.

Gerty bit ’er lips and, for a minute or two, be civil to George she could not.  Then she gave a little smile and took ’is arm agin, and they walked on talking and laughing till she turned round of a sudden and asked a big chap as was passing wot ’e was shoving ’er for.

“Shoving you?” ses he.  “Wot do you think I want to shove you for?”

“Don’t you talk to me,” ses Gerty, firing up.  “George, make ’im beg my pardon.”

“You ought to be more careful,” ses George, in a gentle sort o’ way.

“Make ’im beg my pardon,” ses Gerty, stamping ’er foot; “if he don’t, knock ’im down.”

“Yes, knock ‘im down,” ses the big man, taking hold o’ George’s cap and rumpling his ’air.

Pore George, who was never much good with his fists, hit ’im in the chest, and the next moment he was on ‘is back in the middle o’ the road wondering wot had ’appened to ’im.  By the time ’e got up the other man was arf a mile away; and young Ted stepped up and wiped ’im down with a pocket-’andkerchief while Gerty explained to ’im ’ow she saw ’im slip on a piece o’ banana peel.

“It’s ’ard lines,” she ses; “but never mind, you frightened ’im away, and I don’t wonder at it.  You do look terrible when you’re angry, George; I didn’t know you.”

She praised ’im all the way ’ome, and if it ’adn’t been for his mouth and nose George would ’ave enjoyed it more than ’e did.  She told ’er mother how ’e had flown at a big man wot ’ad insulted her, and Mrs. Mitchell shook her ’ead at ’im and said his bold spirit would lead ’im into trouble afore he ’ad done.

They didn’t seem to be able to make enough of ’im, and next day when he went round Gerty was so upset at the sight of ’is bruises that he thought she was going to cry.  When he had ’ad his tea she gave ’im a cigar she had bought for ’im herself, and when he ’ad finished smoking it she smiled at him, and said that she was going to take ’im out for a pleasant evening to try and make up to ’im for wot he ’ad suffered for ’er.

“We’re all going to stand treat to each other,” she ses.  “Bob always would insist on paying for everything, but I like to feel a bit independent.  Give and take—­that’s the way I like to do things.”

“There’s nothing like being independent,” ses George.  “Bob ought to ha’ known that.”

“I’m sure it’s the best plan,” ses Gerty.  “Now, get your ’at on.  We’re going to a theayter, and Ted shall pay the ’bus fares.”