The Exterminating Machines
the company generally, 'We've got to teach 'im so as 'e can do us out of a job presently by working under price.'
'Well, I can't 'elp it,' growled Crass, 'you know 'ow it is: 'Unter sends 'im 'ere to do paintin', and I've got to put 'im on it. There aint nothin' else for 'im to do.'
Further discussion on this subject was prevented by Sawkins' arrival, nearly a quarter of an hour late.
'Oh, you 'ave come then,' sneered Crass, 'thought praps you'd gorn for a 'oliday.'
Sawkins muttered something about oversleeping himself, and having hastily put on his apron, he went upstairs with Harlow.
'Now let's see,' Crass said, addressing Philpot, 'you and Newman 'ad better go and make a start on the second floor: this is the colour, and 'ere's a couple of candles. You'd better not both go in one room or 'Unter will growl about it. You take one of the front and let Newman take one of the back rooms. Take a bit of stoppin' with you: they're goin' to 'ave two coats, but you'd better putty up the 'oles as well as you can, this time.'
'Only two coats!' said Philpot, 'Them rooms will never look nothing with two coats—a light colour like this.'
'It's only goin' to get two, anyway,' returned Crass, testily, ''Unter said so, so you'll 'ave to do the best you can with 'em, and get 'em smeared over middlin' sudden, too.'
Crass did not think it necessary to mention that according to the copy of the specification of the work which he had in his pocket the rooms in question were supposed to have four coats.
Crass now turned to Owen.
'There's that drorin' room,' he said. 'I don't know what's goin' to be done with that yet. I don't think they've decided about it. Whatever's to be done to it will be an extra, because all that's said about it in the contract is to face it up with putty and give it one coat of white. So you and Easton 'ad better get on with it.'
Slyme was busy softening some putty by rubbing and squeezing it between his hands.
'I suppose I'd better finish the room I started on on Saturday?' he asked.
'All right,' replied Crass, 'Have you got enough colour?'
'Yes,' said Slyme.
As he passed through the kitchen on the way to his work
77
