"No one as does right has anythink to fear from me," he said harshly. "It's only wrong-doers I'm a terror to. Don't you believe what they tell you. So long as you keep yourself accordin and don't interfere with nobody, nobody won't interfere with you, my gurl." Ruth mocked him daintily. "I'm not your girl," she said, soaping her beautifully moulded arms. "I'm Ern's girl, and proud of it." Her lovely eyes engaged his, teasing and tempting. "That's our room above--his and mine. It's cosy." "Ah," said Alf, smouldering. "I'd like to see it." "You can't do that," answered Ruth gravely. "Besides, there's nothing to see only the double-bed Mrs. Trupp gave us and the curtains to close it at night and that, so that no one shan't peep at what they should'nt." The touch of southern blood, wild and adventurous, which revealed itself in her swarthy colouring and black hair, stung her on to darings demure as they were provocative. Alf, sour of eye, changed the subject. "Yes, it's a nice little bit of a crib," he said, glancing round. "What might be your rent?" "More'n it ought to be," answered Ruth. "That's a pity," said Alf. "What's Ern's money now?" "I shan't tell you." Alf thrust his huge head forward with an evil grin. "I'll tell you," he said. "It's twenty-four, and that's the limit. Pigott won't raise him no more. I know Pigott." He gloated over his victim. "Yes, old Ern makes in the week what I'd make in a day if I was to do nothink only loll against the wall with me mouth open to catch the interest on me money that'd roll into it. And I'm makin all the time: for God's give me brains and I'm usin em. I'm not a-going to drive for somebody else all my life. I'm the comin man in this town--you ask my bankers. There's plenty doin _you_ don't know nothin of, and more to come. And I'm at the back of it!--I'm the man what makes things move--that's what I am!" He swelled like a little bull-frog. "I'm a gentleman--that's Alf." He shot his face forward and wagged a finger at her. "And that's just the difference between Ern and me. I'm in the position to live on me own money and never do a hand's turn for it: while Ern has to sweat for his handful of coppers. And _then_ it ain't enough to keep his wife from the wash-tub. I'd like to see _my_ wife at that!--Now then!" He folded his arms and struck an attitude. Ruth soused and wrung and rinsed quite unmoved. "That aren't the only difference, Alf," she said soothingly. "See, Ern's got me. That makes up to him a lot, he says. He says he don't care nothing so long as he's got me to issalf, he says.... Strawberries and cream and plenty of em, he calls me when he's got the curtains draw'd up there, and me a-settin on his knee." Alf retreated, burning and baffled. She came to the door drying her arms, and pursued her victim with eyes in which the lightning played with laughter; as fastidious and dainty in her cruelty as a cat sporting with a mouse.