CHAPTER X
The Upper and the Nether Millstones
On Thursday Owen stayed at home until after breakfast to finish the designs which he had promised to have ready that morning.
When he took them to the office at nine o'clock, as he had arranged, he had to wait half an hour before Rushton put in an appearance, for, like many others who 'work with their brains,' he needed a great deal more rest than those who are employed in mere physical labour.
'Oh, you've brought them sketches, I suppose,' he remarked in a surly tone when he came in. 'You know, there was no need for you to wait; you could 'ave left 'em 'ere and gone on to your job.'
He sat down at his desk and looked carelessly at the drawing. It was on a sheet of paper about twenty-four by eighteen inches. The design was drawn with pencil and one half of it was coloured.
'That's for the ceiling,' said Owen, 'I hadn't time to colour all of it.'
With an affectation of indifference Rushton laid the drawing down and took the other which Owen handed to him.
'This is for the large wall. The same design would be adapted for the other walls; and this one shows the door and the panels under the window.'
Rushton expressed no opinion about the merits of the drawings. He examined them carelessly one after the other, and then laying them down he enquired:
'How long would it take you to do this work—if we get the job?'
'About three weeks—say 150 hours. That is for the decorative work only. Of course the walls and ceiling would have to be painted first; they will need three coats of white.'
Rushton scribbled a note on a piece of paper. 'Well,' he
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