he pushed in and looked round. He
was in the parlour, and a large china dog welcomed him with a fixed
grin.

"W'ere's the old bloke?" muttered Chook.

Pinkey pointed to the dining-room, and Chook walked briskly in. He
found Partridge in his arm-chair, scowling at him over the newspaper.

"Might I ask 'oo you are?" he growled.

"Me name's Fowles--Arthur Fowles," replied Chook, picking a seat near
the door and smoothing a crease in his hat.

"Ah! that's all I wanted to know," growled Partridge. "Now yer can go."

"Me? No fear!" cried Chook, affecting surprise. "Yer missis gave me
an invite ter tea, an' 'ere I am. Besides, I ain't such a stranger as
I look; I 'elped move yer furniture in."

"An' yer shove yer way into my 'ouse on the strength of wot a pack o'
silly women said ter yer?"

"I did," admitted Chook.

"Now you take my advice, an' git out before I break every bone in yer
body."

Chook stared at him with an unnatural stolidity for fear he should
spoil everything by grinning.

"Well, wot are yer starin' at?" inquired Partridge, with irritation.

"I was wonderin' 'ow yer'd look on the end of a rope," replied Chook,
quietly.

"Me on the end of a rope?" cried Partridge in amazement.

"Yes. They said yous 'ud stiffen me if I cum in, an' 'ere I am."

"An' yet you 'ad the cheek?"

"Yes," said Chook; "I niver take no notice o' wot women say."

Partridge glared at him as if meditating a spring, and then, with a
rapid jerk, turned his back on Chook and buried his nose in the
newspaper. Pinkey and her stepmother, who were listening to this
dialogue at the door, ready for flight at the first sound of breaking
glass or splintered wood, now ventured to step into the room. Chook,
secure of victory, criticized the weather, but Partridge remained
silent as a graven image. Mrs Partridge set the table for tea with
nervous haste.

"Tea's ready, William," she cried at last.

William took his place, and, without lifting his eyes, began to serve
the meat. Mrs Partridge had made a special effort. She had bought a
pig's cheek, some German sausage, and a dozen scones at seven for
threepence. This was flanked by bread-and-butter, and a newly opened
tin of jam with the jagged lid of the tin standing upright. She
thought, with pride, that the young man would see he was in a house
where no expense was spared. She requested Chook to sit next to
Pinkey, and talked with feverish haste.

"Which do yer like,