"Ne'er mind, how many h'yer done?
Only three! I'd 'a eaten 'em.

Get on, my lad, an' put numbers on 'em.

Here, look! Get on!" Paul ground away at the letters, whilst Mr.Pappleworth fussed over various jobs.

Suddenly the boy started as a shrill whistle sounded near his ear.

Mr.Pappleworth came, took a plug out of a pipe, and said, in an amazingly cross and bossy voice: "Yes ?" Paul heard a faint voice, like a woman's, out of the mouth of the tube.
He gazed in wonder, never having seen a speaking-tube before.
"Well," said Mr.Pappleworth disagreeably into the tube, "you'd better get some of your back work done, then." Again the woman's tiny voice was heard, sounding pretty and cross.
"I've not time to stand here while you talk," said Mr.Pappleworth, and he pushed the plug into the tube.
"Come, my lad," he said imploringly to Paul, "there's Polly crying out for them orders.