No sooner was breakfast over (and it was over almost as quickly as it takes to tell) than the tired heads began to nod and droop, and in five minutes half of us were sound asleep.There were no signs of our being dismissed, while there were unmistakable signs of preparation for a meeting.I looked at a small clock hanging on the wall.It indicated twenty-five minutes to twelve.Heigh ho, thought I, time is flying, and I have yet to look for work.
'I want to go,' I said to a couple of waking men near me.
'Got ter sty fer the service,' was the answer.
'Do you want to stay?' I asked.
They shook their heads.
'Then let us go up and tell them we want to get out,' I continued.
'Come on.'
But the poor creatures were aghast.So I left them to their fate, and went up to the nearest Salvation Army man.
'I want to go,' I said.'I came here for breakfast in order that Imight be in shape to look for work.I didn't think it would take so long to get breakfast.I think I have a chance for work in Stepney, and the sooner I start, the better chance I'll have of getting it.'
He was really a good fellow, though he was startled by my request.
'Why,' he said, 'we're goin' to 'old services, and you'd better sty.'
'But that will spoil my chances for work,' I urged.'And work is the most important thing for me just now.'
As he was only a private, he referred me to the adjutant, and to the adjutant I repeated my reasons for wishing to go, and politely requested that he let me go.
'But it cawn't be done,' he said, waxing virtuously indignant at such ingratitude.'The idea!' he snorted.'The idea!'