The Canon left them with an apology, as another party was waiting.
"Rum old card," commented Chook, when they got outside.

"I reckon 'e's a man w'en 'e tucks 'is shirt in." The party decided to go home by way of Regent Street, drawn by the sight of the jostling crowd and the glitter of the lamps.

As they threaded their way through the crowd, Jonah stopped in front of a pawnshop and announced that he was going to buy a present for Ada and Pinkey to bring them luck.

He ignored Ada's cries of admiration at the sight of a large brooch set with paste diamonds, and fixed on a thin silver bracelet for her, and a necklace of imitation pearls, the size of peas, for Pinkey.

Ada thrust her fat fingers through the rigid band of metal; it slipped over the joints and hung loosely on her wrist.
Then Pinkey clasped the string of shining beads round her thin neck, the metallic lustre of the false gems heightening the delicate pallor of her fine skin.