u know there's plenty of people wouldn't give the firm no more work
if they knowed about it,' Crass continued. 'Just fancy sendin' a b--r
like that to work in a lady's or gentleman's 'ouse--a bloody Atheist!'

'Yes, it is a bit orf, when you look at it like that.'

'I know my missis--for one--wouldn't 'ave a feller like that in our
place. We 'ad a lodger once and she found out that 'e was a
freethinker or something, and she cleared 'im out, bloody quick, I can
tell yer!'

'Oh, by the way,' said Easton, glad of an opportunity to change the
subject, 'you don't happen to know of anyone as wants a room, do you?
We've got one more than we want, so the wife thought that we might as
well let it.'

Crass thought for a moment. 'Can't say as I do,' he answered,
doubtfully. 'Slyme was talking last week about leaving the place 'e's
lodging at, but I don't know whether 'e's got another place to go to.
You might ask him. I don't know of anyone else.'

'I'll speak to 'im,' replied Easton. 'What's the time? it must be
nearly on it.'

'So it is: just on eight,' exclaimed Crass, and drawing his whistle he
blew a shrill blast upon it to apprise the others of the fact.

'Has anyone seen old Jack Linden since 'e got the push?' inquired
Harlow during breakfast.

'I seen 'im Saterdy,' said Slyme.

'Is 'e doin' anything?'

'I don't know: I didn't 'ave time to speak to 'im.'

'No, 'e ain't got nothing,' remarked Philpot. 'I seen 'im Saterdy
night, an' 'e told me 'e's been walkin' about ever since.'

Philpot did not add that he had 'lent' Linden a shilling, which he
never expected to see again.

''E won't be able to get a job again in a 'urry,' remarked Easton.
''E's too old.'

'You know, after all, you can't blame Misery for sackin' 'im,' said
Crass after a pause. ''E was too slow for a funeral.'

'I wonder how much YOU'LL be able to do when you're as old as he is?'
said Owen.

'P'raps I won't want to do nothing,' replied Crass with a feeble laugh.
'I'm goin' to live on me means.'

'I should say the best thing old Jack could do would be to go in the
union,' said Harlow.

'Yes: I reckon that's what'll be the end of it,' said Easton in a
matter-of-fact tone.

'It's a grand finish, isn't it?' observed Owen. 'After working hard
all one's life to be treated like a criminal at the end.'

'I don't know what you call bein' treated like criminals,' exclaimed
Crass. 'I reckon they 'as a bloody fine time of it, an' we'