040 ANGEL PAVEMENT

making personal remarks about other people. Matter
of fact, I don't mind what old Smeethy says, 'cos he's a
decent sort, and anyhow it isn't often he breaks loose.
But I don't like that chap Sandycroft. He's a cocky
devil, he is. And, anyhow, he's only just come here-
what does he want to be trying to be funny for?"

'That's right," said Poppy, nodding her head. "I
don't think much of him either. Not my style at all,
he isn't. Too many teeth, if you ask me. And I don't
like them noses that turn up the way his does. If he
worked here all the time, he'd have that nose and teeth
into everything. I know that sort/'

"So do I. We'd a school teacher the very image of
him when I was a kid, and he used to try it on with us—
oh, what a hope!"

"Mind you," Poppy continued, looking at him a little
uncertainly, "you do look diff'rent—smarter, y'know."

"Well, that's nobody else's business but mine,"
Turgis declared. "What's it got to do with anybody
else?"

"Oo, all right, don't jump at me. I only meant—
well, you look a lot nicer now. In fact, I think you look
very nice."

Turgis did not know what reply to make to this, so he
merely grunted.

"You don't mind me saying so, I hope?"

"No, Vail right," he replied awkwardly.

"I say, listen. Are you going anywhere to-night?"
She stopped for a moment, but then, before he had time
to answer, went on with a rush, " 'Cos if you aren't—
well, it's like this, my friend—her father's a policeman—
and she got mo tickets given for the Police Minstrels
to-night and now she can't go 'cos she's in bed with the