it don't matter."

He offered 'er the money four or five times, but she wouldn't take it,
but at last just as they got near her 'ouse he forced it in her 'and,
and put his own 'ands in his pockets when she tried to make 'im take it
back.

"You are good to me," she ses arter they 'ad gone inside and 'er mother
'ad gone upstairs arter giving Ginger a bottle o' beer to amuse 'imself
with; "I shall never forget you. Never."

"I 'ope not," ses Ginger, starting. "Are you coming out agin to-
morrow?"

"I'm afraid I can't," ses Miss Gill, shaking her 'ead and looking
sorrowful.

"Not with me?" ses Ginger, sitting down beside her on the sofa and
putting 'is arm so that she could lean against it if she wanted to.

"I don't think I can," ses the gal, leaning back very gentle.

"Think agin," ses Ginger, squeezing 'er waist a little.

Miss Gill shook her 'ead, and then turned and looked at 'im. Her face
was so close to his, that, thinking that she 'ad put it there a-purpose,
he kissed it, and the next moment 'e got a clout that made his 'ead
ring.

"'Ow dare you!" she ses, jumping up with a scream. "'Ow dare you! 'Ow
dare----"

"Wot's the matter?" ses her mother, coming downstairs like a runaway
barrel of treacle.

"He--he's insulted me," ses Miss Gill, taking out her little 'ankercher
and sobbing. "He--k-kissed me!"

"WOT!" ses Mrs. Gill. "Well, I'd never 'ave believed it! Never! Why
'e ought to be taken up. Wot d'ye mean by it?" she ses, turning on
pore Ginger.

Ginger tried to explain, but it was all no good, and two minutes
arterwards 'e was walking back to 'is lodgings like a dog with its tail
between its legs. His 'ead was going round and round with astonishment,
and 'e was in such a temper that 'e barged into a man twice as big as
himself and then offered to knock his 'ead off when 'e objected. And
when Sam and Peter asked him 'ow he 'ad got on, he was in such a state
of mind it was all 'e could do to answer 'em.

"And I'll trouble you for my 'arf dollar, Peter," he ses; "I've been out
with 'er all day, and I've won my bet."

Peter paid it over like a lamb, and then 'e sat thinking 'ard for a bit.

"Are you going out with 'er agin to-morrow, Ginger?" he ses, arter a
time.

"I don't know," ses Ginger, careless-like, "I ain't made up my mind
yet."

Peter looked at 'im and then 'e looked at Sam and winked. "Let me 'ave
a try," he ses; "I'll bet you another 'arf dollar that I take 'er o