In fact, Festing's thoroughness was rather fine; he was an artist in his way.

The artist's methods, however, were not as a rule profitable when applied to contract work.

Then Charnock's meditations were rudely disturbed, for he heard a shout and saw the foreman had noted his cautious advance.
"Watch him coming, boys!" the latter remarked.

"Like a blamed cat that's scared of wetting its pretty feet! Say, do you want a private car to move you along the track?
Jump now and load up that trolley, you soft-bodied slob!" Charnock obeyed, promptly and silently.

He had, at first, responded to encouragement of this kind by a witty retort, but had found the consequences unfortunate.