Two pence
and two farthings; no more.
You are probably not aware that at bakers' shops in the poor
quarters the price of the half-quartern loaf varies sometimes
from week to week. At present, as Biffen knew, it was twopence
three-farthings, a common figure. But Harold did not possess
three farthings, only two. Reflecting, he remembered to have
passed yesterday a shop where the bread was marked twopence
halfpenny; it was a shop in a very obscure little street off
Hampstead Road, some distance from Clipstone Street. Thither he
must repair. He had only his hat and a muffler to put on, for
again he was wearing his overcoat in default of the under one,
and his ragged umbrella to take from the corner; so he went
forth.
To his delight the twopence halfpenny announcement was still in
the baker's window. He obtained a loaf wrapped it in the piece of
paper he had brought--small bakers decline to supply paper for
this purpose--and strode joyously homeward again.
Having eaten, he looked longingly at his manuscript. But half a
page more. Should he not finish it to-night? The temptation was
irresistible.
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