“The more the merrier,” ses his nevy.  “Well, so long; I expect she’s waiting for me.”

He got up and said good-bye, and arter he ’ad gorn, Sam and the other two shook their leads together and said what a pity it was to be twenty-one.  Ginger said it made ’im sad to think of it, and Peter said ’ow any gal could look at a man under thirty, ’e couldn’t think.

They all went round to the nevy’s the next evening.  They was a little bit early owing to Ginger’s watch ’aving been set right by guess-work, and they ’ad to sit in a row on the nevy’s bed waiting while ’e cleaned ’imself, and changed his clothes.  Although it was only Wednesday ’e changed his collar, and he was so long making up ’is mind about his necktie that ’is uncle tried to make it up for him.  By the time he ’ad finished Sam said it made ’im think it was Sunday.

Miss Gill was at ’ome when they got there, and all three of ’em was very much surprised that such a good-looking gal should take up with Sam’s nevy.  Ginger nearly said so, but Peter gave ’im a dig in the back just in time and ’e called him something under ’is breath instead.

“Why shouldn’t we all make an evening of it?” ses Ginger, arter they ’ad been talking for about ten minutes, and the nevy ’ad looked at the clock three or four times.

“Because two’s company,” ses Mrs. Gill.  “Why you was young yourself once.  Can’t you remember?”

“He’s young now, mother,” ses the gal, giving Ginger a nice smile.

“I tell you wot we might do,” ses Mrs. Gill, putting ’er finger to her forehead and considering.  “You and Joe go out and ’ave your evening, and me and these gentlemen’ll go off together somewhere.  I shall enjoy an outing; I ain’t ’ad one for a long time.”

Ginger said it would be very nice if she thought it wouldn’t make ’er too tired, and afore Sam or Peter could think of anything to say, she was upstairs putting ‘er bonnet on.  They thought o’ plenty to say while they was sitting alone with Ginger waiting for ’er.

“My idea was for the gal and your nevy to come too,” ses pore Ginger.  “Then I thought we might lose ’im and I would ’ave a little chat with the gal, and show ’er ’ow foolish she was.”

“Well, you’ve done it now,” ses Sam.  “Spoilt our evening.”

“P’r’aps good will come out of it,” ses Ginger.  “If the old lady takes a fancy to us we shall be able to come agin, and then to please you, Sam, I’ll have a go to cut your nevy out.”

Sam stared at ’im, and Peter stared too, and then they looked at each other and began to laugh till Ginger forgot where ’e was and offered to put Sam through the winder.  They was still quarrelling under their breath and saying wot they’d like to do to each other when Mrs. Gill came downstairs.  Dressed up to the nines she was, and they walked down the street with a feeling that everybody was looking at em.