He even obtained work down at the harbour through a friend of Mr.
Kybird's. It was not of a very exalted nature, and caused more strain
upon the back than the intellect, but seven years of roughing it had left
him singularly free from caste prejudices, a freedom which he soon
discovered was not shared by his old acquaintances at Sunwich. The
discovery made him somewhat bitter, and when Hardy stopped him one
afternoon as he was on his way home from work he tried to ignore his
outstretched hand and continued on his way.
[Illustration: "He even obtained work down at the harbor."]
"It is a long time since we met," said Hardy, placing himself in front
of him.
"Good heavens," said Jack, regarding him closely, "it's Jemmy Hardy--
grown up spick and span like the industrious little boys in the
school-books. I heard you were back here."
"I came back just before you did," said Hardy. "Brass band playing you in
and all that sort of thing, I suppose," said the other. "Alas, how the
wicked prosper--and you were wicked. Do you remember how you used to
knock me about?"
"Come round to my place and have a chat," said Hardy.
Jack shook his head. "They're expecting me in to tea," he said, with a
nod in the direction of Mr. Kybird's, "and honest waterside labourers who
earn their bread by the sweat of their brow--when the foreman is looking
--do not frequent the society of the upper classes.
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