ce of a
lifetime, if a man had a few dollars. With Bob's outfit, he could open
a shop on the Road, and run rings round Paasch and the others. But
seven pounds! He had never handled so much money in his life, and
there was no one to lend it to him. Mrs Yabsley was as poor as a crow.
Well, he would fit up the back room as a workshop, and go on at
Packard's as an outdoor finisher, carrying a huge bag of boots to and
from the factory every week, like Tom Mullins.

When Jonah reached the cottage, he found Mrs Yabsley sorting the shirts
and collars; Ada was reading a penny novelette. She had left Packard's
without ceremony on her wedding-day, and was spending her honeymoon on
the back veranda. Her tastes were very simple. Give her nothing to
do, a novelette to read, and some lollies to suck, and she was
satisfied. Ray, who was growing too big for the box-cradle, was lying
on a sugar-bag in the shade.

"W'y, Joe, yer face is as long as a fiddle!" cried Mrs Yabsley,
cheerfully. "Wot's up? 'Ave yer got the sack?"

"No, but Dutchy's got nuthin' fer me till We'n'sday. I might 'ave
known that. An' anyhow, if I earned more than a quid, 'e'd break 'is
'eart."

"Well, a quid's no good to a man wi' a wife an' family," replied the
old woman. "Wot do yer reckon on doin'?"

She knew that her judgment of Jonah was being put to the test, and she
remarked his gloomy face with satisfaction.

"I'm goin' ter chuck Dutchy, if I can git a job," said Jonah. "I went
round ter Bob Watkins, but 'e's in the 'orspital, an' 'is wife's
sellin' 'is tools."

"Wot does she want for 'em?" asked Mrs Yabsley, with a curious look.

"Seven quid, an' they'd set a man up fer life," said Jonah.

"Ah! that's a lot o' money," said Mrs Yabsley, raking the ashes from
under the copper. "Wait till this water boils, an' we'll talk things
over."

Ada returned to her novelette. Ray, sitting upright with an effort,
gurgled with pleasure to see his father. Jonah tilted him on his back,
and tickled his fat legs, pretending to worry him like a dog. The pair
made a tremendous noise.

"Oh, gi' the kid a bit o' peace!" cried Ada, angry at being disturbed.

"Yous git round, an' 'elp Mum wi' the clothes," snapped Jonah.

"Me? No fear!" cried Ada, with a malicious grin. "I didn't knock off
work to carry bricks. Yous married me, an' yer got ter keep me."

Jonah looked at her with a scowl. She knew quite well that he had
married her for the child