I agreed to come down?"

Chook's words flashed across his mind. This was a trap, and he had been
a fool to come.

"I'll cum to-morrow, an' fix up the fowls," he cried, and grabbing his
mouth-organ, turned to go--to find his way blocked by Mrs Yabsley,
carrying a shoulder of mutton and a bag of groceries.




CHAPTER 3



CARDIGAN STREET AT HOME


Mrs Yabsley came to the door for a breath of fresh air, and surveyed
Cardigan Street with a loving eye. She had lived there since her marriage
twenty years ago, and to her it was the pick of Sydney, the centre of the
habitable globe. She gave her opinion to every newcomer in her tremendous
voice, that broke on their unaccustomed ears like thunder:

"I've lived 'ere ever since I was a young married woman, an' I know wot
I'm talkin' about. My 'usband used ter take me to the play before we was
married, but I never see any play equal ter wot 'appens in this street,
if yer only keeps yer eyes open. I see people as wears spectacles readin'
books. I don't wonder. If their eyesight was good, they'd be able ter