than
two shillings a day--and consequently he was very glad when Philpot
called at his house one evening and told him there was a chance of a
job at Rushton's. Newman accordingly went to the yard the next
morning, taking his apron and blouse and his bag of tools with him,
ready to start work. He got there at about quarter to six and was
waiting outside when Hunter arrived. The latter was secretly very glad
to see him, for there was a rush of work in and they were short of men.
He did not let this appear, of course, but hesitated for a few minutes
when Newman repeated the usual formula: 'Any chance of a job, sir?'

'We wasn't at all satisfied with you last time you was on, you know,'
said Misery. 'Still, I don't mind giving you another chance. But if
you want to hold your job you'll have to move yourself a bit quicker
than you did before.'

Towards the end of the month things began to improve all round. The
weather became finer and more settled. As time went on the improvement
was maintained and nearly everyone was employed. Rushton's were so busy
that they took on several other old hands who had been sacked the
previous year for being too slow.

Thanks to the influence of Crass, Easton was now regarded as one of the
regular hands. He had recently resumed the practice of spending some
of his evenings at the Cricketers. It is probable that even if it had
not been for his friendship with Crass, he would still have continued
to frequent the public house, for things were not very comfortable at
home. Somehow or other, Ruth and he seemed to be always quarrelling,
and he was satisfied that it was not always his fault. Sometimes,
after the day's work was over he would go home resolved to be good
friends with her: he would plan on his way homewards to suggest to her
that they should have their tea and then go out for a walk with the
child. Once or twice she agreed, but on each occasion, they quarrelled
before they got home again. So after a time he gave up trying to be
friends with her and went out by himself every evening as soon as he
had had his tea.

Mary Linden, who was still lodging with them, could not help perceiving
their unhappiness: she frequently noticed that Ruth's eyes were red and
swollen as if with crying, and she gently sought to gain her
confidence, but without success. On one occasion when Mary was trying
to advise her, Ruth burst out into a terrible fit of weeping, but she
would not say wha