one. But Hewett had his ideas of decency, and stuck to them with
characteristic wilfulness.

'Where do you think I've been this afternoon?' John began, when the
three little ones were gone, and Mrs. Hewett had been persuaded to
lie down upon the bed. 'Walked to Enfleld an' back. I was told of a
job out there; but it's no good; they're full up. They say exercise
is good for the 'ealth. I shall be a 'ealthy man before long, it
seems to me. What do _you_ think?'

'Have you been to see Corder again?' asked Sidney, after reflecting
anxiously.

'No, I haven't!' was the angry reply; 'an' what's more, I ain't
goin' to! He's one o' them men I can't get on with. As long as you
make yourself small before him, an' say "sir" to him with every
other word, an' keep tellin' him as he's your Providence on earth,
an' as you don't know how ever you'd get on without him--well,
it's all square, an' he'll keep you on the job. That's just what I
_can't_ do--never could, an' never shall. I should have to hear
them children cryin' for food before I could do it. So don't speak
to me about Corder again. It makes me wild!'

Sidney tapped the floor with his foot. Himself a single man, without
responsibilities, always in fairly good work, he could not
invariably sympathise with Hewett's sore and impracticable pride.
His own temper did not err in the direction of meekness, but as he
looked round the room he felt that a home such as this would drive
him to any degree of humiliation. John knew what the young man's
thoughts were; he resumed in a voice of exasperated bitterness.