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them loudly on the middle of the table. Each man took what
he wanted; they were warm and greasy from recent wash-
ing in dirty water. Plates of meat swimming in gravy were
handed round by boys in white jackets, and as they flung
each plate down with the quick gesture of a prestidigita-
tor the gravy slopped over on to the table-cloth. Then they
brought large dishes of cabbages and potatoes; the sight of
them turned Philip’s stomach; he noticed that everyone
poured quantities of vinegar over them. The noise was aw-
ful. They talked and laughed and shouted, and there was
the clatter of knives and forks, and strange sounds of eat-
ing. Philip was glad to get back into the department. He was
beginning to remember where each one was, and had less
often to ask one of the assistants, when somebody wanted
to know the way.
‘First to the right. Second on the left, madam.’
One or two of the girls spoke to him, just a word when
things were slack, and he felt they were taking his measure.
At five he was sent up again to the dining-room for tea. He
was glad to sit down. There were large slices of bread heavily
spread with butter; and many had pots of jam, which were
kept in the ‘store’ and had their names written on.
Philip was exhausted when work stopped at half past six.
Harris, the man he had sat next to at dinner, offered to take
him over to Harrington Street to show him where he was to
sleep. He told Philip there was a spare bed in his room, and,
as the other rooms were full, he expected Philip would be
put there. The house in Harrington Street had been a boot-
maker’s; and the shop was used as a bed-room; but it was