aid Nimrod at last. 'We shan't require your
valuable services no more after tonight.'

Newman went white.

'Why, what's wrong?' said he. 'What have I done?'

'Oh, it's not wot you've DONE,' replied Misery. 'It's wot you've not
done. That's wot's wrong! You've not done enough, that's all!' And
without further parley he turned and went out.

Newman stood in the darkening room feeling as if his heart had turned
to lead. There rose before his mind the picture of his home and
family. He could see them as they were at this very moment, the wife
probably just beginning to prepare the evening meal, and the children
setting the cups and saucers and other things on the kitchen table--a
noisy work, enlivened with many a frolic and childish dispute. Even
the two-year-old baby insisted on helping, although she always put
everything in the wrong place and made all sorts of funny mistakes.
They had all been so happy lately because they knew that he had work
that would last till nearly Christmas--if not longer. And now this had
happened--to plunge them back into the abyss of wretchedness from which
they had so recently escaped. They still owed several weeks' rent, and
were already so much in debt to the baker and the grocer that it was
hopeless to expect any further credit.

'My God!' said Newman, realizing the almost utter hopelessness of the
chance of obtaining another 'job' and unconsciously speaking aloud. 'My
God! How can I tell them? What WILL become of us?'

Having accomplished the objects of his visit, Hunter shortly afterwards
departed, possibly congratulating himself that he had not been hiding
his light under a bushel, but that he had set it upon a candlestick and
given light unto all that were within that house.

As soon as they knew that he was gone, the men began to gather into
little groups, but in a little while they nearly all found themselves
in the kitchen, discussing the reduction. Sawkins and the other
'lightweights' remained at their work. Some of them got only fourpence
halfpenny--Sawkins was paid fivepence--so none of these were affected
by the change. The other two fresh hands--the journeymen--joined the
crowd in the kitchen, being anxious to conceal the fact that they had
agreed to accept the reduced rate before being 'taken on'. Owen also
was there, having heard the news hem Philpot.

There was a lot of furious talk. At first several of them spoke of
'chucking up', at once; but othe