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ame of a strike. He's a'most as bad as your own father, Mr. Moggs." "You have done his work to-day. You have earned your bread. You owe him nothing." "That I don't, Mr. Moggs. He'll take care of that." "And yet you are to stay away from this place, or go to that, to suit his pleasure. Are you Neefit's slave?" "I'm just the young man in his shop,--that's all." "As long as that is all, Waddle, you are not worthy to be called a man." "Mr. Moggs, you're too hard. As for being a man, I am a man. I've a wife and two kids. I don't think more of my governor than another;--but if he sacked me, where 'd I get thirty-five bob a-week?" "I beg your pardon, Waddle;--it's true. I should not have said it. Perhaps you do not quite understand me, but your position is one of a single stick, rather than of the faggot. Ah me! She hasn't been at the shop lately?" "She do come sometimes. She was there the day before yesterday." "And alone?" "She come alone, and she went home with the governor." "And he?" "Mr. Newton, you mean?" "Has he been there?" "Well;--yes; he was there once last week." "Well?" "There was words;--that's what there was. It ain't going smooth, and he ain't been out there no more,--not as I knows on. I did say a word once or twice as to the precious long figure as he stands for on our books. Over two hundred for breeches is something quite stupendous. Isn't it, Mr. Moggs?" "And what did Neefit say?" "Just snarled at me. He can show his teeth, you know, and look as bitter as you like. It ain't off, because when I just named the very heavy figure in such a business as ours,--he only snarled. But it ain't on, Mr. Moggs. It ain't what I call,--on." After this they walked on in silence for a short way, when Mr. Waddle made a little proposition. "He's on your books, too, Mr. Moggs, pretty tight, as I'm told. Why ain't you down on him?" "Down on him?" said Moggs. "I wouldn't leave him an hour, if I was you." "D'you think that's the way I would be down on,--a rival?" and Moggs, as he walked along, worked both his fists closely in his energy. "If I can't be down on him other gait than that, I'll leave him alone. But, Waddle, by my sacred honour as a man, I'll not leave him alone!" Waddle started, and stood with his mouth open, looking up at his friend. "Base, mercenary, false-hearted loon! What is it that he wants?" "Old Neefit's money. That's it, you know." "He doesn't know w
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