in high spirits.

That evening, the weather being fine, Slyme went out as usual to his
open-air meeting, but Easton departed from HIS usual custom of rushing
off to the 'Cricketers' directly he had had his tea, having on this
occasion promised to wait for Ruth and to go with her to do the
marketing. The baby was left at home alone, asleep in the cradle.

By the time they had made all their purchases they had a fairly heavy
load. Easton carried the string-bag containing the potatoes and other
vegetables, and the meat, and Ruth, the groceries. On their way home,
they had to pass the 'Cricketers' and just before they reached that
part of their journey they met Mr and Mrs Crass, who were also out
marketing. They both insisted on Easton and Ruth going in to have a
drink with them. Ruth did not want to go, but she allowed herself to
be persuaded for she could see that Easton was beginning to get angry
with her for refusing. Crass had on a new overcoat and a new hat, with
dark grey trousers and yellow boots, and a 'stand-up' collar with a
bright blue tie. His wife--a fat, vulgar-looking, well-preserved woman
about forty--was arrayed in a dark red 'motor' costume, with hat to
match. Both Easton and Ruth--whose best clothes had all been pawned to
raise the money to pay the poor rate--felt very mean and shabby before
them.

When they got inside, Crass paid for the first round of drinks, a pint
of Old Six for himself; the same for Easton, half a pint for Mrs Easton
and threepenny-worth of gin for Mrs Crass.

The Besotted Wretch was there, just finishing a game of hooks and rings
with the Semi-drunk--who had called round on the day after he was
thrown out, to apologize for his conduct to the Old Dear, and had since
then become one of the regular customers. Philpot was absent. He had
been there that afternoon, so the Old Dear said, but he had gone home
about five o'clock, and had not been back since. He was almost sure to
look in again in the course of the evening.

Although the house was not nearly so full as it would have been if
times had been better, there was a large number of people there, for
the 'Cricketers' was one of the most popular houses in the town.
Another thing that helped to make them busy was the fact that two other
public houses in the vicinity had recently been closed up. There were
people in all the compartments. Some of the seats in the public bar
were occupied by women, some young and accompan