"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 pretty well; and then he watched the people passing to and fro, and wondered what he could do to earn some money. The chair-factory was hopeless certainly, but there must surely be some one in Wickham who wanted a boy to run errands, or dig gardens, or help in stables. What should he do? Without money he must starve; he could neither go on to London or back to Green Highlands.