Crass and Owen were the only two whose wages were not reduced.
It will be remembered that Newman was one of those who were already working for the reduced rate.

Misery found him alone in one of the upper rooms, to which he was giving the final coat.

He was at his old tricks.

The woodwork of the cupboard be was doing was in a rather damaged condition, and he was facing up the dents with white-lead putty before painting it.

He knew quite well that Hunter objected to any but very large holes or cracks being stopped, and yet somehow or other he could not scamp the work to the extent that he was ordered to; and so, almost by stealth, he was in the habit of doing it--not properly but as well as he dared.