Soon there was little for Paasch to do but stand at his door, staring with frightened, short-sighted eyes across the Road at the octopus that was slowly squeezing the life out of his shop.

But he obstinately refused to lower his prices, though his customers carried the work from his counter across the street.

It seemed to him that the prices were something fixed by natural laws, like the return of the seasons or the multiplication table.
"I haf always charge tree an' six for men's, an' it cannot be done cheaper without taking de bread out of mine mouth," he repeated obstinately.
In three months Jonah hired another workman, and the landlord came down to see if the shop could be enlarged to meet Jonah's requirements.
Then a traveller called with an armful of samples.

He was travelling for his brother, he explained, who had a small factory.

Jonah looked longingly, and confessed that he wanted to stock his shop, but had no money to buy.