When he went into the room they glanced around to see who it was, and stopped singing.
Rushton did not speak, but stood in the middle of the floor, silently watching them as they worked, for about a quarter of an hour.

Then, without having uttered a syllable, he turned and went out.
They heard him softly descend the stairs, and Harlow, turning to Philpot said in a hoarse whisper: 'What do you think of the b--r, standing there watchin' us like that, as if we was a couple of bloody convicts?
If it wasn't that I've got someone else beside myself to think of, I would 'ave sloshed the bloody sod in the mouth with this pound brush!' 'Yes; it does make yer feel like that, mate,' replied Philpot, 'but of course we mustn't give way to it.' 'Several times,' continued Harlow, who was livid with anger, 'I was on the point of turnin' round and sayin' to 'im, "What the bloody 'ell do you mean by standin' there and watchin' me, you bloody, psalm-singin' swine ?" It took me all my time to keep it in, I can tell you.' Meanwhile, Rushton was still going about the house, occasionally standing and watching the other men in the same manner as he had watched Philpot and Harlow.
None of the men looked round from their work or spoke either to Rushton or to each other.

The only sounds heard were the noises made by the saws and hammers of the carpenters who were fixing the frieze rails and dado rails or repairing parts of the woodwork in some of the rooms.
Crass placed himself in Rushton's way several times with the hope of being spoken to, but beyond curtly acknowledging the 'foreman's' servile 'Good hafternoon, sir,' the master took no notice of him.
After about an hour spent in this manner Rushton went away, but as no one say him go, it was not until some considerable time after his departure that they knew that he was gone.
Owen was secretly very disappointed.

'I thought he had come to tell me about the drawing-room,' he said to himself, 'but I suppose it's not decided yet.' Just as the 'hands' were beginning to breathe freely again, Misery arrived, carrying some rolled-up papers in his hand.

He also flitted silently from one room to another, peering round corners and listening at doors in the hope of seeing or hearing something which would give him an excuse for making an example of someone.