“She said she 'ad been in love with me all along,” ses Sam, filling their glasses agin to cheer 'em up. “We went out arter tea and bought the engagement-ring, and then she got somebody to mind the shop and we went to the Pagoda music-'all.”
“I 'ope you didn't pay much for the ring, Sam,” ses Ginger, who always got very kind-'arted arter two or three glasses o' whisky. “If I'd known you was going to be in such a hurry I might ha' told you before.”
“We ought to ha' done,” ses Peter, shaking his 'ead.
“Told me?” ses Sam, staring at 'em. “Told me wot?”
“Why me and Peter gave it up,” ses Ginger; “but, o' course, p'r'aps you don't mind.”
“Mind wot?” ses Sam.
“It's wonderful 'ow quiet she kept it,” ses Peter.
Old Sam stared at 'em agin, and then he asked 'em to speak in plain English wot they'd got to say, and not to go taking away the character of a woman wot wasn't there to speak up for herself.
“It's nothing agin 'er character,” ses Ginger. “It's a credit to her, looked at properly,” ses Peter Russet.
“And Sam'll 'ave the pleasure of bringing of 'em up,” ses Ginger.