“You'll find the cheapest way is to buy a glass of beer and then feed over there.”
“No,” said Samuel, startled. “I—I think I'd rather not do that.”
“Well, so long,” said Finriegan, with a laugh.
“You'll see me to-morrow morning,” said Samuel, as he went out.
CHAPTER VI
Samuel went to a bake shop and bought a loaf of bread and sat on the bench of the public square and devoured it bit by bit. It was the cheapest thing he could think of, and quantity was what counted just then.
Next he had to find a room to spend the night. He knew nothing about hotels and lodging-houses—he walked through the workingmen's quarter of the town, scanning the cottages hesitatingly. At last in the doorway of one he noticed a woman standing, an elderly woman, very thin and weary looking, but clean, and with a kindly face. So he stopped.
“Please,” said he, “could you tell me any place where I could hire a room?”