“Come on, ’Erb,” said William jauntily, “let’s buy some sweets, eh?”
He entered a small, unsavouring sweetshop, and the whole tribe crowded in after him. He and ’Erb discussed the rival merits of bulls’ eyes and cokernut kisses at length.
“Them larses longer,” said ’Erb, “but these ’ere tases nicer.”
Finally, William airily tasted one of the cokernut kisses and the whole tribe followed his example—to be chased by the indignant shopkeeper all the way down the street.
“Eatin’ of ’em!” he shouted furiously. “Eatin’ of ’em without payin’ for ’em. I’ll set the cops on ye—ye young thieves.”
*****
They rushed along the next street shouting, whistling and pushing each other. William’s whistle was louder than any, he ran the foremost. The lust of lawlessness was growing on him. They swarmed in at the next sweetshop, and William purchased sixpennyworth of bulls’ eyes and poured them recklessly out of the bag into the grimy, outstretched palms that surrounded him.
William had no idea where he was. His hands were as grimy as the hands of his companions, his face was streaked with dirt wherever his hands had touched it, his eye was black, his collar was gone, his hair was wild, his overcoat had lost its look of tailored freshness. And he was happy at last.
WILLIAM WAS HAPPY AT LAST. HE WAS A BOY AMONG
BOYS—AN OUTLAW AMONG OUTLAWS