'It's not what he's been doing,' Emmeline explained; 'it's what he's going to do. Says he's going to break his leave and get himself into trouble.'
Pincher looked round with the obvious intention of breaking away; but the P.O. nodded and grabbed him by the arm. 'You come along o' me, my son,' he remarked gruffly. 'Come on! Don't git kickin' up a shindy 'ere!'
'Interferin'!' Pincher blustered, wild with rage and struggling hard to get free. 'Interferin'—that's wot I calls it! Wot's it got ter do wi' you? Think becos you've got a killick[ [25] on yer arm yer can do wot yer likes, I suppose!—Has fur you, Miss Figgins, I'll'——
But the girl had discreetly turned her back, and was hurrying homewards.
'Come on!' growled the P.O., dragging him along. 'I reckons you ought to be jolly thankful to the gal for takin' such a hinterest in you. None o' that, now!' as Pincher began to struggle again. 'If you don't come quiet like I'll call the patrol an' have you harrested. S' welp me, I will! Come on! We've not got too much time on our 'ands!'
Pincher, very chastened, saw that further resistance was useless, and suffered himself to be conducted on board the boat without more trouble.
The ship was at sea for only a few days; and a week later, when he went to see Emmeline again, he arrived in a very repentant mood, carrying a bunch of violets as a peace-offering.
'Well,' she said severely, as he entered the shop, 'I didn't think you'd dare to come here again after what happened last Monday night.'
Pincher hung his head and got very red. 'Wouldn't dare!' he repeated. 'Why not?'
'You know very well why not,' she said, eyeing him. 'What's that you've got in your hand?'