"Yes, I mean to see to the bottom of it," said Mrs Jenkles. "I haven't patience with such ways." "They can't help being poor." "I don't mean them; I mean those people they're with. I couldn't do it." "Not you," said Sam. "But I say, don't Mr Lacy go next week?" "Yes." "And the rooms will be empty?" "Yes," said Mrs Jenkles. "I have put the bill up in the window; he said he didn't mind." Sam Jenkles went and sat down in his chair with an air of relief and looked at his wife. Mrs Jenkles looked at Sam, as if the same idea was in both hearts. Then she jumped up suddenly. "Oh, Sam, the potatoes are spoiling!" They were, but they were not spoilt; and Sam Jenkles made a very hearty meal, washing it down with the pint of beer which he termed his allowance. "Ah!" he said, speaking like a man with a load off his mind, "this here's a luxury as the swells never gets--a regular good, hot, mealy tater, fresh from the fire. It's a wonderful arrangement of nature that about taters." "Why?" said Mrs Jenkles, as she emptied the brown coat of another potato on her husband's plate. "What do you mean?" "Why, the way in which roast potatoes and beer goes together. Six mouthfuls of tater, and then a drink of beer to get rid of the dryness." "I wish you wouldn't be so fond of talking about beer, Sam," said Mrs Jenkles. "All right, my dear," said Sam; and he finished his supper, retook his place by the fireside, filled his pipe, glanced at the Dutch clock swinging its pendulum to and fro; and then, as he lit the tobacco--"Ah! this is cheery. Glad I aint on the night shift." Mrs Jenkles was very quiet as she bustled about and cleared the table, before once more taking her place on the other side of the fire. "Ratty went first-rate to-day," said Sam, after a few puffs. But Mrs Jenkles did not take any notice; she only made her needle click, and Sam kept glancing at her as he went on smoking. At last she spoke. "I shall go up and see those people, Sam, for I'm afraid you've been taken in. Was she a married woman." "Yes," said Sam; "I saw her ring. But I say, you know, 'taint my fault, Sally," he said, plaintively. "I was born a soft un." "Then it's time you grew hard, Sam," said Mrs Jenkles, bending over her work. "Thirty shillings takes a deal of saving with people like us." "Yes," said Sam, "it do, 'specially when you has so many bad days to make up." "You ought not to have to pay more than twelve shillings a day for that cab, Sam." "I told the gov'nor so, and he said as it oughter be eighteen, and plenty would be glad to get it at that." Mrs Jenkles tightened her mouth, and shook her head. "Oh! I say, Sally," said Sam, plaintively, "I've been worried about that money; and now it was off my mind, I did think as it was all right. You've reglarly put my pipe out." Mrs Jenkles rose, took a splint from the chimney-piece, lit it, and handed it to her husband.