As the good news spread through the house a chorus of thanksgiving burst forth.
'Thank Gord!' said one.
'Hope the b--r falls orf and breaks 'is bloody neck,' said another.
'These Bible-thumpers are all the same; no one ever knew one to be any good yet,' cried a third.
Directly they knew for certain that he was gone, nearly everyone left off work for a few minutes to curse him.

Then they again went on working and now that they were relieved of the embarrassment that Misery's presence inspired, they made better progress.

A few of them lit their pipes and smoked as they worked.
One of these was old Jack Linden.

He was upset by the bullying he had received, and when he noticed some of the others smoking he thought he would have a pipe; it might steady his nerves.

As a rule he did not smoke when working; it was contrary to orders.
As Philpot was returning to work again he paused for a moment to whisper to Linden, with the result that the latter accompanied him upstairs.
On reaching Philpot's room the latter placed the step-ladder near the cupboard and, taking down the bottle of beer, handed it to Linden with the remark, 'Get some of that acrost yer, matey; it'll put yer right.' While Linden was taking a hasty drink, Joe kept watch on the landing outside in case Hunter should suddenly and unexpectedly reappear.
When Linden was gone downstairs again, Philpot, having finished what remained of the beer and hidden the bottle up the chimney, resumed the work of stopping up the holes and cracks in the ceiling and walls.