ry,
dolefully. 'I'll let Harlow help Easton paint the room out, so as you
can get your stencils and things ready. But for Gord's sake get 'em
done as quick as you can. If you could manage to get done by Friday
and come down and help Easton on Saturday, it would be so much the
better. And when you do get a start on the decoratin', I shouldn't
take too much care over it, you know, if I was you, because we 'ad to
take the job for next to nothing or Mr Sweater would never 'ave 'ad it
done at all!'

Nimrod now began to crawl about the house, snarling and grumbling at
everyone.

'Now then, you chaps. Rouse yourselves!' he bellowed, 'you seem to
think this is a 'orspital. If some of you don't make a better show
than this, I'll 'ave to 'ave a Alteration! There's plenty of chaps
walkin' about doin' nothin' who'll be only too glad of a job!'

He went into the scullery, where Crass was mixing some colour.

'Look 'ere, Crass!' he said. 'I'm not at all satisfied with the way
you're gettin' on with the work. You must push the chaps a bit more
than you're doin'. There's not enough being done, by a long way. We
shall lose money over this job before we're finished!'

Crass--whose fat face had turned a ghastly green with fright--mumbled
something about getting on with it as fast as he could.

'Well, you'll 'ave to make 'em move a bit quicker than this!' Misery
howled, 'or there'll 'ave to be a ALTERATION!'

By an 'alteration' Crass understood that he might get the sack, or that
someone else might be put in charge of the job, and that would of
course reduce him to the ranks and do away with his chance of being
kept on longer than the others. He determined to try to ingratiate
himself with Hunter and appease his wrath by sacrificing someone else.
He glanced cautiously into the kitchen and up the passage and then,
lowering his voice, he said:

'They all shapes pretty well, except Newman. I would 'ave told you
about 'im before, but I thought I'd give 'im a fair chance. I've spoke
to 'im several times myself about not doin' enough, but it don't seem
to make no difference.'

'I've 'ad me eye on 'im meself for some time,' replied Nimrod in the
same tone. 'Anybody would think the work was goin' to be sent to a
Exhibition, the way 'e messes about with it, rubbing it with glasspaper
and stopping up every little crack! I can't understand where 'e gets
all the glasspaper FROM.'

''E brings it 'isself!' said Crass hoarsel