between door and jamb) drew her master's attention to the lamentable
case, and help was of course forthcoming. Then, by good luck,
Allchin was enabled to resume his vocation; he got a place at a
grocer's in Fulham Road, and in a few weeks presented himself before
his benefactor, bringing half-a-crown as a first instalment toward
the discharge of his debt; for only on this condition had he
accepted the money. Half a year elapsed without troublesome
incident; the man made regular repayment in small sums; then came
the disaster which Mrs. Hopper had yesterday announced.

"Well, Allchin," cried Warburton, "what's the latest?"

Before speaking, the other pressed his lips tightly together and
puffed out his cheeks, as if it cost him an effort to bring words to
the surface. His reply came forth with explosive abruptness.

"Lost my place at Boxon's, sir."

"And how's that?"

"It happened last Saturday, sir. I don't want to make out as I
wasn't at all to blame. I know as well as anybody that I've got a
will of my own. But we're open late, as perhaps you know, sir, on
Saturday night, and Mr. Boxon--well, it's only the truth--he's
never quite himself after ten o'clock. I'd worked from eight in the
morning to something past midnight--of course I don't think
nothing of that, 'cause it's reg'lar in the trade. But--well, in
come a customer, sir, a woman as didn't rightly know what she
wanted; and she went out without buying, and Mr. Boxon he see it,
and he come up to me and calls me the foulest name he could turn his