“Botty!” screamed Mrs. Bott tearfully, “Don’t you value your darling child’s life at even thirty shillings?”
Hastily Mr. Bott handed them each a ten shilling note.
******
They tramped homewards by the road.
“Well, it’s turned out all right,” said Ginger lugubriously, but fingering the ten shilling note in his pocket, “but it might not have. ’Cept for the money it jolly well spoilt the morning.”
“Girls always do,” said William. “I’m not going to have anything to do with any ole girl ever again.”
“’S all very well sayin’ that,” said Douglas who had been deeply impressed that morning by the inevitableness and deadly persistence of the sex, “’s all very well sayin’ that. It’s them what has to do with you.”
“An’ I’m never goin’ to marry any ole girl,” said William.
“’S all very well sayin’ that,” said Douglas again gloomily, “but some ole girl’ll probably marry you.”