older. There's no place like home."

Those same words had been sounding in Frank's ears all night. They
seemed to meet him everywhere, he thought, like a sort of warning.
Nevertheless he was not going to give up his plan, and having learned
the direction of the overseer's office he turned to leave the shop.

"And here's summat to set yer teeth in as you go along," said the woman,
holding out a long roll of bread. "Growing lads should allus be
eatin'."

"Thank you, ma'am," said Frank, and he took off his cap politely, as he
had been taught at school, and went his way.

"As pretty behaved as possible," murmured the woman as she looked after
him, "and off with his hat like a prince. What sort o' folks does he
belong to, I wonder!"

The overseer's office was a small dark room with a high desk in it, at
which sat a sandy-haired red-faced man, with his hat very much on the
back of his head. He was talking in a loud blustering voice to several
workmen, and as Frank entered he heard the last part of the speech.

"So you can tell Smorthwaite and the rest of 'em that they can come on
again on the old terms, but they'll not get a farthing more. Well,
boy," as he noticed Frank standing humbly in the background, "what do
_you_ want?"

Mr Green's manner was that of an incensed and much-tried man, and Frank
felt quite afraid to speak.

"Please, sir," he said, "do you want a boy in the factory?"

"Do I want a boy!" repeated the overseer, addressing the ceiling in a
voice of despair. "No, of course I don't want a boy. If I had my will
I'd have no boys in the place--I'm sick of the sight of boys."

He bent his eyes on a newspaper before him, and seemed to consider the
matter disposed of; but Frank made one more timid venture.

"Please, sir," he said, going close up to the desk, "I'd work very
stiddy."

Mr Green peered over his high desk at the sound of the small persistent
voice, and frowned darkly.

"Clear out!" he said with a nod of his head towards the door; "don't
stop here talking nonsense. Out you go!"

Frank dared not stay; he slunk out into the street crushed and
disappointed, for he felt he had not even had a chance. "He might a
listened to a chap," he said to himself.

Just then the church clock struck one, dinner time, and a convenient
doorstep near, so he took the roll out of the breast of his smock-frock
and sat down to eat it. As he had never been used to very luxurious
meals it satisfied him