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se two were working for sixpence an hour。 There was no love lost between Crass and Slyme either： Crass was furious whenever it happened that Slyme had a few hours' work to do if he himself were idle； and if ever Crass was working while Slyme was ‘standing still' the latter went about amongst the other unemployed men saying ugly things about Crass； whom he accused of being a ‘crawler'。 Owen also came in for his share of abuse and blame： most of them said that a man like him should stick out for higher wages whether employed on special work or not； and then he would not get any preference。 But all the same； whatever they said about each other behind each other's backs； they were all most friendly to each other when they met face to face。
Once or twice Owen did some work … such as graining a door or writing a sign … for one or other of his fellow workmen who had managed to secure a little job ‘on his own'； but putting it all together； the coffin…plates and other work at Rushton's and all； his earnings had not averaged ten shillings a week for the last six weeks。 Often they had no coal and sometimes not even a penny to put into the gas meter； and then； having nothing left good enough to pawn； he sometimes obtained a few pence by selling some of his books to second…hand book dealers。 However； bad as their condition was； Owen knew that they were better off than the majority of the others； for whenever he went out he was certain to meet numbers of men whom he had worked with at different times； who said … some of them … that they had been idle for ten； twelve； fifteen and in some cases for twenty weeks without having earned a shilling。
Owen used to wonder how they managed to continue to exist。 Most of them were wearing other people's cast…off clothes； hats； and boots； which had in some instances been given to their wives by ‘visiting ladies'； or by the people at whose houses their wives went to work； charing。 As for food； most of them lived on such credit as they could get； and on the scraps of broken victuals and meat that their wives brought home from the places they worked at。 Some of them had grown…up sons and daughters who still lived with them and whose earnings kept their homes together； and the wives of some of them eked out a miserable existence by letting lodgings。
The week before old Linden went into the workhouse Owen earned nothing； and to make matters worse the grocer from whom they usually bought their things suddenly refused to let them have any more credit。 Owen went to see him； and the man said he was very sorry； but he could not let them have anything more without the money； he did not mind waiting a few weeks for what was already owing； but he could not let the amount get any higher； his books were full of bad debts already。 In conclusion； he said that he hoped Owen would not do as so many others had done and take his ready money elsewhere。 People came and got credit from him when they were hard up； and afterwards spent their ready money at the Monopole Company's stores on the other side of the street； because their goods were a trifle cheaper； and it was not fair。 Owen admitted that it was not fair； but reminded him that they always bought their things at his shop。 The grocer； however； was inexorable； he repeated several times that his books were full of bad debts and his own creditors were pressing him。 During their conversation the shopkeeper's eyes wandered continually to the big store on the other side of the street； the huge； gilded letters of the name ‘Monopole Stores' seemed to have an irresistible attraction for him。 Once he interrupted himself in the middle of a sentence to point out to Owen a little girl who was just coming out of the Stores with a small parcel in her hand。
‘Her father owes me nearly thirty shillings；' he said； ‘but they spend their ready money there。'
The front of the grocer's shop badly needed repainting； and the name on the fascia； ‘A。 Smallman'； was so faded as to be almost indecipherable。 It had been Owen's intention to offer to do this work … the cost to go against his account … but the man appeared to be so harassed that Owen refrained from making the suggestion。
They still had credit at the baker's； but they did not take much bread： when one has had scarcely anything else but bread to eat for nearly a month one finds it difficult to eat at all。 That same day； when he returned home after his interview with the grocer； they had a loaf of beautiful fresh bread； but none of them could eat it； although they were hungry： it seemed to stick in their throats； and they could not swallow it even with the help of a drink of tea。 But they drank the tea； which was the one thing that enabled them to go on living。
The next week Owen earned eight shillings altogether： a few hours he put in assisting Crass to wash off and whiten a ceiling and paint a room； and there was one coffin…plate。 He wrote the latter at home； and while he was doing it he heard Frankie … who was out in the scullery with Nora … say to her：
‘Mother； how many more days to you think we'll have to have only dry bread and tea？'
Owen's heart seemed to stop as he heard the child's question and listened for Nora's answer； but the question was not to be answered at all just then； for at that moment they heard someone running up the stairs and presently the door was unceremoniously thrown open and Charley Linden rushed into the house； out of breath； hatless； and crying piteously。 His clothes were old and ragged； they had been patched at the knees and elbows； but the patches were tearing away from the rotting fabric into which they had been sewn。 He had on a pair of black stockings full of holes through which the skin was showing。 The soles of his boots were worn through at one side right to the uppers； and as he walked the sides of his bare heels came into contact with the floor； the front part of the sole of one boot was separated from the upper； and his bare toes； red with cold and covered with mud； protruded through the gap。 Some sharp substance … a nail or a piece of glass or flint … had evidently lacerated his right foot； for blood was oozing from the broken heel of his boot on to the floor。
They were unable to make much sense of the confused story he told them through his sobs as soon as he was able to speak。 All that was clear was that there was something very serious the matter at home： he thought his mother must be either dying or dead； because she did not speak or move or open her eyes； and ‘please； please； please will you come home with me and see her？'
While Nora was getting ready to go with the boy； Owen made him sit on a chair； and having removed the boot from the foot that was bleeding； washed the cut with some warm water and bandaged it with a piece of clean rag； and then they tried to persuade him to stay there with Frankie while Nora went to see his mother； but the boy would not hear of it。 So Frankie went with them instead。 Owen could not go because he had to finish the coffin…plate； which was only just commenced。
It will be remembered that we left Mary Linden alone in the house after she returned from seeing the old people away。 When the children came home from school； about half an hour afterwards； they found her sitting in one of the chairs with her head resting on her arms on the table； unconscious。 They were terrified； because they could not awaken her and began to cry； but presently Charley thought of Frankie's mother and； telling his sister to stay there while he was gone； he started off at a run for Owen's house； leaving the front door wide open after him。
When Nora and the two boys reached the house they found there two other women neighbours； who had heard Elsie crying and had come to see what was wrong。 Mary had recovered from her faint and was lying down on the bed。 Nora stayed with her for some time after the other women went away。 She lit the fire and gave the children their tea … there was still some coal and food left of what had been bought with the three shillings obtained from the Board of Guardians … and afterwards she tidied the house。
Mary said that she did not know exactly what she would have to do in the future。 If she could get a room somewhere for two or three shillings a week； her allowance from the Guardians would pay the rent； and she would be able to earn enough for herself and the children to live on。
This was the substance of the story that Nora told Owen when she returned home。 He had finished writing the coffin…plate； and as it was now nearly dry he put on his coat and took it down to the carpenter's shop at the yard。
On his way back he met Easton； who had been hanging about in the vain hope of seeing Hunter and finding out if there was any chance of a job。 As they walked along together； Easton confided to Owen that he had earned scarcely anything since he had been stood off at Rushton's； and what he had earned had gone； as usual； to pay the rent。 Slyme had left them some time ago。 Ruth did not seem able to get on with him； she had been in a funny sort of temper altogether； but since he had gone she had had a little work at a boarding…house on the Grand Parade。 But things had been going from bad to worse。 They