Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/63

 been persuaded to lie down upon the bed. "Walked to Enfield an' back. I was told of a job out there; but it's no good; they're full up. They say exercise is good for the 'ealth. I shall be a 'ealthy man before long, it seems to me. What do you think?"

"Have you been to see Corder again?" asked Sidney, after reflecting anxiously.

"No, I haven't!" was the angry reply; "an' what's more, I ain't goin' to! He's one o' them men I can't get on with. As long as you make yourself small before him, an' say 'sir' to him with every other word, an' keep tellin' him as he's your Providence on earth, an' as you don't know how ever you'd get on without him—well, it's all square, an' he'll keep you on the job. That's just what I can't do—never could, an' never shall. I should have to hear them children cryin' for food before I could do it. So don't speak to me about Corder again. It makes me wild!"

Sidney tapped the floor with his foot. Himself a single man, without responsibilities, always in fairly good work, he could not