ame of a strike. He's a'most as
bad as your own father, Mr. Moggs."

"You have done his work to-day. You have earned your bread. You owe
him nothing."

"That I don't, Mr. Moggs. He'll take care of that."

"And yet you are to stay away from this place, or go to that, to suit
his pleasure. Are you Neefit's slave?"

"I'm just the young man in his shop,--that's all."

"As long as that is all, Waddle, you are not worthy to be called a
man."

"Mr. Moggs, you're too hard. As for being a man, I am a man.
I've a wife and two kids. I don't think more of my governor than
another;--but if he sacked me, where 'd I get thirty-five bob
a-week?"

"I beg your pardon, Waddle;--it's true. I should not have said it.
Perhaps you do not quite understand me, but your position is one of
a single stick, rather than of the faggot. Ah me! She hasn't been at
the shop lately?"

"She do come sometimes. She was there the day before yesterday."

"And alone?"

"She come alone, and she went home with the governor."

"And he?"

"Mr. Newton, you mean?"

"Has he been there?"

"Well;--yes; he was there once last week."

"Well?"

"There was words;--that's what there was. It ain't going smooth, and
he ain't been out there no more,--not as I knows on. I did say a word
once or twice as to the precious long figure as he stands for on our
books. Over two hundred for breeches is something quite stupendous.
Isn't it, Mr. Moggs?"

"And what did Neefit say?"

"Just snarled at me. He can show his teeth, you know, and look as
bitter as you like. It ain't off, because when I just named the very
heavy figure in such a business as ours,--he only snarled. But it
ain't on, Mr. Moggs. It ain't what I call,--on." After this they
walked on in silence for a short way, when Mr. Waddle made a little
proposition. "He's on your books, too, Mr. Moggs, pretty tight, as
I'm told. Why ain't you down on him?"

"Down on him?" said Moggs.

"I wouldn't leave him an hour, if I was you."

"D'you think that's the way I would be down on,--a rival?" and Moggs,
as he walked along, worked both his fists closely in his energy. "If
I can't be down on him other gait than that, I'll leave him alone.
But, Waddle, by my sacred honour as a man, I'll not leave him alone!"
Waddle started, and stood with his mouth open, looking up at his
friend. "Base, mercenary, false-hearted loon! What is it that he
wants?"

"Old Neefit's money. That's it, you know."

"He doesn't know w