“Ted Reddish looked ’ard at ’im, and then he looked at ’is wife agin.
“I’ll just go outside and talk it over with the missus,’ he ses, at last, and they both got up and went out.
“‘It’s all right,’ ses old Sam, winking at Ginger.
“‘Fair cop,’ ses Ginger, who was still rubbing his leg. ‘I told you it would be, but there’s no need for Beauty to overdo it. He nearly ’ad a bit out o’ my leg.’
“‘A’right,’ ses the wild man, shifting along the ’earthrug to where Peter was sitting; ‘but it don’t do for me to be too tame. You ’eard wot she said.’
“‘How are you feeling, old man?’ ses Peter, in a kind voice, as ’e tucked ’is legs away under ’is chair.
“‘Gurr,’ ses the wild man, going on all fours to the back of the chair, ‘gur—wug—wug——’
“‘Don’t play the fool, Beauty,’ ses Peter, with a uneasy smile, as he twisted ’is ’ead round. ‘Call ’im off, Sam.’
“‘Gurr,’ ses the wild man, sniffing at ’is legs; ‘gurr.’
“‘Easy on, Beauty, it’s no good biting ’im till they come back,’ ses old Sam.