Here were two large and gloomily lighted rooms, in which men cooked and ate.

I had intended to do some cooking myself, but the smell of the place stole away my appetite, or, rather, wrested it from me; so I contented myself with watching other men cook and eat.
One workman, home from work, sat down opposite me at the rough wooden table, and began his meal.

A handful of salt on the not over-clean table constituted his butter.

Into it he dipped his bread, mouthful by mouthful, and washed it down with tea from a big mug.

A piece of fish completed his bill of fare.