'I din' take it,' William said. 'Ethel took it. She - she sort of can't help herself. I always,' he added virtuously, 'try'n put back the things she's took.'

It all started with a rare event: William Brown read a book. And now he feels inspired to save his sister from a life of crime. The road to disaster is paved with William's good intentions. Ethel's behaviour has been rather odd - more so than is usual in a girl. But William, the Brown family's moral guardian, is determined to 'reform' her - whatever the consequences . . .