ANGEL PAVEMENT

decide that, and she would soon enough when she had'
washed up. For a week or two, she would be feeling
rich and would be bringing out all sorts of plans. If
by the end of this night she had not thought of twenty
different ways of getting rid of a good deal more than
an extra pound or so a week, he would be surprised. She
had a weakness for hire purchase schemes, to begin with,
and he detested them, both as a man of business and
a careful householder. Well, after the first excitement
had gone he would have to put his foot down; no more
of these fairy tale views of life; somebody had to do the
thinking. Now his thoughts took on a sombre colour-
ing. He had never envied the rich their luxurious
pleasures; he was a simple chap, and their way of life
seemed to him ridiculous; he did not want a great deal
for himself; but what he did want—and for this he was
prepared to envy anybody—was security, to know that
decency and self-respect were his to the end of his days.
To be safe in his job while he was fit for it, and after
that to have a little place of his own, with a garden (he
had never done any real gardening, but he always found
it easy to imagine himself doing it very well and enjoy-
ing it) and a bit of music whenever he wanted it—that
was not asking much, and yet, for all the firm's increased
turnover and its rises, he could not help thinking it was
really like asking for the moon.

" 'Lo, Dad/1 cried George, entering briskly. "How's
things?"

"Pretty good, boy. How's the car trade?"

"Not so dusty. You don't know anybody who'd like
to lend me sixty quid, do you, Dad?"

"I don't," replied Mr. Smeeth very decidedly.

"Pity," said George, who showed no signs of dis-