lace from there.
Crass and Sawkins accordingly lifted the coffin off the tressels,
and--while Hunter held the light--proceeded to carry it downstairs, a
task of considerable difficulty owing to the narrowness of the
staircase and the landing. However, they got it down at last and,
having put it on the handcart, covered it over with the black wrapper.
It was still raining and the lamp in the cart was nearly out, so
Sawkins trimmed the wick and relit it before they started.

Hunter wished them 'Good-night' at the corner of the street, because it
was not necessary for him to accompany them to the yard--they would be
able to manage all that remained to be done by themselves. He said he
would make the arrangements for the funeral as soon as he possibly
could the next morning, and he would come to the job and let them know,
as soon as he knew himself, at what time they would have to be in
attendance to act as bearers. He had gone a little distance on his way
when he stopped and turned back to them.

'It's not necessary for either of you to make a song about this
business, you know,' he said.

The two men said that they quite understood that: he could depend on
their keeping their mouths shut.

When Hunter had gone, Crass drew out his watch. It was a quarter to
eleven. A little way down the road the lights of a public house were
gleaming through the mist.

'We shall be just in time to get a drink before closing time if we buck
up,' he said. And with this object they hurried on as fast as they
could.

When they reached the tavern they left the cart standing by the kerb,
and went inside, where Crass ordered two pints of four-ale, which he
permitted Sawkins to pay for.

'How are we going on about this job?' inquired the latter after they
had each taken a long drink, for they were thirsty after their
exertions. 'I reckon we ought to 'ave more than a bob for it, don't
you? It's not like a ordinary "lift in".'

'Of course it ain't,' replied Crass. 'We ought to 'ave about,
say'--reflecting--'say arf a dollar each at the very least.'

'Little enough too,' said Sawkins. 'I was going to say arf a crown,
myself.'

Crass agreed that even half a crown would not be too much.

''Ow are we going' on about chargin' it on our time sheets?' asked
Sawkins, after a pause. 'If we just put a "lift in", they might only
pay us a bob as usual.'

As a rule when they had taken a coffin home, they wrote on their time
sheets, 'One