‘Nice bloke, ain’t he?’
‘He’s only one of the paupers,—has he any right to act as one of the officials?’
‘I tell yer some of them paupers is wuss than the orficers,—a long sight wuss! They thinks they owns the ’ouses, blimey they do. Oh it’s a——fine world, this is!’
He paused. I hesitated. For some time there had been a suspicion of rain in the air. Now it was commencing to fall in a fine but soaking drizzle. It only needed that to fill my cup to overflowing. My companion was regarding me with a sort of sullen curiosity.
‘Ain’t you got no money?’
‘Not a farthing.’
‘Done much of this sort of thing?’
‘It’s the first time I’ve been to a casual ward,—and it doesn’t seem as if I’m going to get in now.’
‘I thought you looked as if you was a bit fresh.—What are yer goin’ to do?’
‘How far is it to Kensington?’