As he praised the quality of the peas to a customer, he found time to observe that the unloading went on very slowly.

The vanman stood on the cart and slid the articles on to the shoulders of a girl, who staggered across the pavement under a load twice her size.

It looked like an ant carrying a beetle.

Five minutes later Chook stood at the door and rapped with his knuckles.
"Any vegetables to-day, lydy ?" he inquired, in his nasal, professional sing-song.
The answer to his question was Pinkey, dishevelled, sweating in beads, covered with dust, her sleeves tucked up to the elbows, showing two arms as thick as pipe-stems.

She flushed pink under the sweat and grime, feeling for her apron to wipe her face.