One gloved hand was thrust into the pocket of the overcoat and in the other he carried a small Gladstone bag.
When Crass beheld this being, he touched his cap respectfully.
'Good morning, sir!' 'Good morning.

They told me upstairs that I should find the foreman here.

Are you the foreman ?' 'Yes, sir.' 'I see you're getting on with the work here.' 'Ho yes sir, we're beginning to make a bit hov a show now, sir,' replied Crass, speaking as if he had a hot potato in his mouth.
'Mr Rushton isn't here yet, I suppose ?' 'No, sir: 'e don't horfun come hon the job hin the mornin, sir; 'e generally comes hafternoons, sir, but Mr 'Unter's halmost sure to be 'ere presently, sir.' 'It's Mr Rushton I want to see: I arranged to meet him here at ten o'clock; but'-- looking at his watch--'I'm rather before my time.' 'He'll be here presently, I suppose,' added Mr Sweater.

'I'll just take a look round till he comes.' 'Yes, sir,' responded Crass, walking behind him obsequiously as he went out of the room.
Hoping that the gentleman might give him a shilling, Crass followed him into the front hall and began explaining what progress had so far been made with the work, but as Mr Sweater answered only by monosyllables and grunts, Crass presently concluded that his conversation was not appreciated and returned to the kitchen.
Meantime, upstairs, Philpot had gone into Newman's room and was discussing with him the possibility of extracting from Mr Sweater the price of a little light refreshment.
'I think,' he remarked, 'that we oughter see-ise this 'ere tuneropperty to touch 'im for an allowance.' 'We won't git nothin' out of 'IM, mate,' returned Newman.

''E's a red-'ot teetotaller.' 'That don't matter.