e
necessary when deciding what parts were to be gilded because--whilst
large masses of gilding are apt to look garish and in bad taste--a lot
of fine gold lines are ineffective, especially on a flat surface, where
they do not always catch the light. Process by process he traced the
work, and saw it advancing stage by stage until, finally, the large
apartment was transformed and glorified. And then in the midst of the
pleasure he experienced in the planning of the work there came the fear
that perhaps they would not have it done at all.

The question, what personal advantage would he gain never once occurred
to Owen. He simply wanted to do the work; and he saw so fully occupied
with thinking and planning how it was to be done that the question of
profit was crowded out.

But although this question of what profit could be made out of the work
never occurred to Owen, it would in due course by fully considered by
Mr Rushton. In fact, it was the only thing about the work that Mr
Rushton would think of at all: how much money could be made out of it.
This is what is meant by the oft-quoted saying, 'The men work with
their hands--the master works with his brains.'

Chapter 12

The Letting of the Room

It will be remembered that when the men separated, Owen going to the
office to see Rushton, and the others on their several ways, Easton and
Slyme went together.

During the day Easton had found an opportunity of speaking to him about
the bedroom. Slyme was about to leave the place where he was at
present lodging, and he told Easton that although he had almost decided
on another place he would take a look at the room. At Easton's
suggestion they arranged that Slyme was to accompany him home that
night. As the former remarked, Slyme could come to see the place, and
if he didn't like it as well as the other he was thinking of taking,
there was no harm done.

Ruth had contrived to furnish the room. Some of the things she had
obtained on credit from a second-hand furniture dealer. Exactly how
she had managed, Easton did not know, but it was done.

'This is the house,' said Easton. As they passed through, the gate
creaked loudly on its hinges and then closed of itself rather noisily.

Ruth had just been putting the child to sleep and she stood up as they
came in, hastily fastening the bodice of her dress as she did so.

'I've brought a gentleman to see you,' said Easton.

Although she knew that he was look