hese groups they recognized and nodded to Newman
and old Jack Linden, and the former left the others and came up to
Crass and Slyme, who did not pause, so Newman walked along with them.

'Anything fresh in, Bob?' he asked.

'No; we ain't got 'ardly anything,' replied Crass. 'I reckon we shall
finish up at "The Cave" next week, and then I suppose we shall all be
stood orf. We've got several plumbers on, and I believe there's a
little gas-fitting work in, but next to nothing in our line.'

'I suppose you don't know of any other firm what's got anything?'

'No, I don't, mate. Between you and me, I don't think any of 'em has;
they're all in about the same fix.'

'I've not done anything since I left, you know,' said Newman, 'and
we've just about got as far as we can get, at home.'

Slyme and Crass said nothing in reply to this. They wished that Newman
would take himself off, because they did not want him to know where
they were going.

However, Newman continued to accompany them and an awkward silence
succeeded. He seemed to wish to say something more, and they both
guessed what it was. So they walked along as rapidly as possible in
order not to give him any encouragement. At last Newman blurted out:

'I suppose--you don't happen--either of you--to have a tanner you could
lend me? I'll let you have it back--when I get a job.'

'I ain't mate,' replied Crass. 'I'm sorry; if I 'ad one on me, you
should 'ave it, with pleasure.'

Slyme also expressed his regret that he had no money with him, and at
the corner of the next street Newman--ashamed of having asked--wished
them 'good night' and went away.

Slyme and Crass hurried along and presently arrived at Rushton & Co.'s
shop. The windows were lit up with electric light, displaying an
assortment of wallpapers, gas and electric light fittings, glass
shades, globes, tins of enamel, paint and varnish. Several framed
show-cards--'Estimates Free', 'First class work only, at moderate
charges', 'Only First Class Workmen Employed' and several others of the
same type. On one side wall of the window was a large shield-shaped
board covered with black velvet on which a number of brass fittings for
coffins were arranged. The shield was on an oak mount with the
inscription: 'Funerals conducted on modern principles'.

Slyme waited outside while Crass went in. Mr Budd, the shopman, was
down at the far end near the glazed partition which separated Mr
Rushton's office fr