He could only find odd work when there was a large demand for labour, for the younger and stronger men were preferred when times were slack.

He had spent a week, now, on the benches of the Embankment; but things looked brighter for next week, and he might possibly get in a few days' work and have a bed in some doss-house.

He had lived all his life in London, save for five years, when, in 1878, he saw foreign service in India.
Of course he would eat; so would the girl.

Days like this were uncommon hard on such as they, though the coppers were so busy poor folk could get in more sleep.

I awoke the girl, or woman, rather, for she was "Eyght an' twenty, sir," and we started for a coffee-house.
"Wot a lot o' work puttin' up the lights," said the man at sight of some building superbly illuminated.