sons for wishing to go, and politely requested that
he let me go.

"But it cawn t be done," he said, waxing virtu
ously indignant at such ingratitude. " The idea!"
he snorted. " The idea!"

"Do you mean to say that I can t get out of
here? " I demanded. " That you will keep me here
against my will?"

"Yes," he snorted.

I do not know what might have happened, for I
was waxing indignant myself; but the congrega
tion had piped the situation, and he drew me
over to a corner of the room, and then into another
room. Here he again demanded my reasons for
wishing to go.

"I want to go," I said, " because I wish to look
for work over in Stepney, and every hour lessens
my chance of finding work. It is now twenty-five
minutes to twelve. I did not think when I came in
that it would take so long to get a breakfast."

"You ave business, eh ? " he sneered. " A man
of business you are, eh ? Then wot did you come
ere for?"

"I was out all night, and I needed a breakfast
in order to strengthen me to find work. That is
why I came here."

"A nice thing to do," he went on, in the same
sneering manner. "A man with business shouldn t

[[134]]

p133 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p134w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p135

v?