In a minute Ada returned with the basin full of green peas, boiled
into a squashy mass.

Mrs Yabsley went out with the shirts, and Jonah and Ada sat down to the
peas, which they ate with keen relish, after sprinkling them with pepper
and vinegar.

After the green peas, Ada noticed that Jonah was looking furtively about
the room and listening, as if he expected to hear something. She guessed
the cause, and decided to change his thoughts.

"Give us a tune, Joe," she cried.

Jonah took the mouth-organ from his pocket, and rubbed it carefully on his
sleeve. He was a famous performer on this instrument, and on holiday
nights the Push marched through the streets, with Jonah in the lead,
playing tunes that he learned at the "Tiv". He breathed slowly into the
tubes, running up and down the scale as a pianist runs his fingers over
the keyboard before playing, and then struck into a sentimental ballad.

In five minutes he had warmed up to his work, changing from one tune
to another with barely a pause, revelling in the simple rhythm and facile
phrases of the popular songs. Ada listened spellbound, amazed by this
talent for music, carried back to the gallery of the music-hall where she
had heard these very tunes. At last he struck into a waltz, marking
the time with his foot, drawing his breath in rapid jerks to accentuate
the bass.

"Must 'ave a turn, if I die fer it," cried Ada, springing to her feet,
and, with her arms extended to embrace an imaginary partner, she began