This was chilling news, and, alas! each subsequent evening proved only the correctness of Mr. Williams's anticipations. Seven-pound houses were the rule. On Friday and Saturday they had two very fair pits, but this could not compensate for previous losses, and in the end, when all expenses were paid, only five-and-thirty shillings remained to be divided among the principals. Their next try was at Oldham, but matters grew worse instead of better, and on Saturday night five-and-twenty shillings was sorrowfully portioned out in equal shares. It did not amount to much more than half a crown apiece. Rochdale, however, was not far distant, and, still hoping that times would mend, Morton and Cox's band of travelling actors sped on their way, dreaming of how they could infuse new life into their mumming, and whip up the jaded pleasure-tastes of the miners. But for the moment comic songs proved weak implements in the search for ore, and the committee sitting in the green-room, used likewise as a dressing-room by the two ladies, counted out a miserable four-and-ninepence as the result of a week's hard labour. Beaumont fumed before the small glass, arranging her earrings as if she anticipated losing them; Kate trembled and clung to her husband's arm, Montgomery cast sentimental glances of admiration at her, and Mortimer tried to think of something funny, while Dubois came to the point by asking: 'Well, what are you going to do with that four-and-ninepence? It isn't worth dividing. I suppose we'd better drink it.' At the mention of drinks Mr. Hayes blinked and shifted the black bag from the chair to the ground. 'Yes, that's easily arranged,' said Dick, 'but what about the tour? I for one am not going on at four-and-ninepence a week.' 'Sp-pend--it--in drinks,' stuttered Mr. Hayes, awakening to a partial sense of the situation. Everybody laughed, but in the pause that ensued, each returned to the idea that there was no use going on at four-and-ninepence a week. 'For we can't live on drink, although Beaumont can upon love,' said Mortimer, determined to say something. But the joke amused no one, and for some time only short and irrelevant sentences broke the long silences. At last Dick said: 'Well, then, I suppose we'd better break up the tour.'