“Shut up, Ernie,” Cora said sharply. “George has actually done it! It’s the most fantastic story I’ve ever heard. He pinched a taxi, picked up a girl, took her on the Heath and pinched her clothes." George could feel Eva’s admiring gaze. Even Little Ernie’s mouth fell open.
“For Gawd’s sake!” Little Ernie said. “The old Chicago stuff! Wot ’appened to the girl? Cor luv me! I’d given me eyes to ’ave seen ’er. She must ’ave been ’opping mad.”
George smirked uneasily. “I didn’t bother my head about her,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I told her to scram, and she scrammed!”
“I bet she did,” Little Ernie giggled. “And pinching a taxi! Wot an idea! That’s brains! Lolly Cheese! I wouldn’t ’aye thought of that one meself.”
“Let’s look at the clothes,” Eva said. “What has he got you?”
“Of course!” Cora cried, snatching the bundle from George. “Let’s see if his taste is good.”
George giggled with excitement. He couldn’t help it. Suddenly it seemed he was one of them. They were smiling at him, nodding at him. They said he had brains. Cora was like a kid in her excitement.
The two girls took the pillowcase over to the bed, while Little Ernie sidled up to George.
“Wot was she like, palsy?” he whispered. “Orl right?”
George winked. He suddenly quite liked this red-headed little man, and when Little Ernie nudged him in the ribs and put the obvious question, George shoved him off playfully and said, “That’s telling.”