the ragged trousered philanthropists-第108章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


a　toss　up　which　side　did　it。

‘That's　the　way　I've　been　lookin'　at　things　lately；　and　I'd　almost　made　up　my　mind　never　to　vote　no　more；　or　to　trouble　myself　about　politics　at　all；　because　although　I　could　see　there　was　no　sense　in　voting　for　Liberal　or　Tory　capitalists；　at　the　same　time　I　must　admit　I　couldn't　make　out　how　Socialism　was　going　to　help　us。　　But　the　explanation　of　it　which　Professor　Barrington　has　given　us　this　afternoon　has　been　a　bit　of　an　eye　opener　for　me；　and　with　your　permission　I　should　like　to　move　as　a　resolution；　〃That　it　is　the　opinion　of　this　meeting　that　Socialism　is　the　only　remedy　for　Unemployment　and　Poverty。〃'

The　conclusion　of　Harlow's　address　was　greeted　with　loud　cheers　from　the　Socialists；　but　most　of　the　Liberal　and　Tory　supporters　of　the　present　system　maintained　a　sulky　silence。

‘I'll　second　that　resolution；'　said　Easton。

‘And　I'll　lay　a　bob　both　ways；'　remarked　Bundy。　　The　resolution　was　then　put；　and　though　the　majority　were　against　it；　the　Chairman　declared　it　was　carried　unanimously。

By　this　time　the　violence　of　the　storm　had　in　a　great　measure　abated；　but　as　rain　was　still　falling　it　was　decided　not　to　attempt　to　resume　work　that　day。　　Besides；　it　would　have　been　too　late；　even　if　the　weather　had　cleared　up。

‘P'raps　it's　just　as　well　it　'as　rained；'　remarked　one　man。　　‘If　it　'adn't　some　of　us　might　'ave　got　the　sack　tonight。　　As　it　is；　there'll　be　hardly　enough　for　all　of　us　to　do　tomorrer　and　Saturday　mornin'　even　if　it　is　fine。'

This　was　true：　nearly　all　the　outside　was　finished；　and　what　remained　to　be　done　was　ready　for　the　final　coat。　　Inside　all　there　was　to　do　was　to　colour　wash　the　walls　and　to　give　the　woodwork　of　the　kitchen　and　scullery　the　last　coat　of　paint。

It　was　inevitable　…　unless　the　firm　had　some　other　work　for　them　to　do　somewhere　else　…　that　there　would　be　a　great　slaughter　on　Saturday。

‘Now；'　said　Philpot；　assuming　what　he　meant　to　be　the　manner　of　a　school　teacher　addressing　children；　‘I　wants　you　hall　to　make　a　speshall　heffort　and　get　'ere　very　early　in　the　mornin'　…　say　about　four　o'clock　…　and　them　wot　doos　the　most　work　tomorrer；　will　get　a　prize　on　Saturday。'

‘What'll　it　be；　the　sack？'　inquired　Harlow。

‘Yes；'　replied　Philpot；　‘and　not　honly　will　you　get　a　prize　for　good　conduck　tomorrer；　but　if　you　all　keep　on　workin'　like　we've　bin　doing　lately　till　you're　too　hold　and　wore　hout　to　do？any　more；　you'll　be　allowed　to　go　to　a　nice　workhouse　for　the　rest　of　your　lives！　and　each　one　of　you　will　be　given　a　title　…　〃Pauper！〃'

And　they　laughed！

Although　the　majority　of　them　had　mothers　or　fathers　or　other　near　relatives　who　had　already　succeeded　to　the　title　…　they　laughed！

As　they　were　going　home；　Crass　paused　at　the　gate；　and　pointing　up　to　the　large　gable　at　the　end　of　the　house；　he　said　to　Philpot：

‘You'll　want　the　longest　ladder　…　the　65；　for　that；　tomorrow。'

Philpot　looked　up　at　the　gable。

It　was　very　high。



Chapter　46

The　‘Sixty…five'


The　next　morning　after　breakfast；　Philpot；　Sawkins；　Harlow　and　Barrington　went　to　the　Yard　to　get　the　long　ladder　…　the　65　…　so　called　because　it　had　sixty…five　rungs。　　It　was　really　what　is　known　as　a　builder's　scaffold　ladder；　and　it　had　been　strengthened　by　several　iron　bolts　or　rods　which　passed　through　just　under　some　of　the　rungs。　　One　side　of　the　ladder　had　an　iron　band　or　ribbon　twisted　and　nailed　round　it　spirally。　　It　was　not　at　all　suitable　for　painters'　work；　being　altogether　too　heavy　and　cumbrous。　　However；　as　none　of　the　others　were　long　enough　to　reach　the　high　gable　at　the　Refuge；　they　managed；　with　a　struggle；　to　get　it　down　from　the　hooks　and　put　it　on　one　of　the　handcarts　and　soon　passed　through　the　streets　of　mean　and　dingy　houses　in　the　vicinity　of　the　yard；　and　began　the　ascent　of　the　long　hill。

There　had　been　a　lot　of　rain　during　the　night；　and　the　sky　was　still　overcast　with　dark　grey　clouds。　　The　cart　went　heavily　over　the　muddy　road；　Sawkins　was　at　the　helm；　holding　the　end　of　the　ladder　and　steering；　the　others　walked　a　little　further　ahead；　at　the　sides　of　the　cart。

It　was　such　hard　work　that　by　the　time　they　were　half…way　up　the　hill　they　were　so　exhausted　and　out　of　breath　that　they　had　to　stop　for　a　rest。

‘This　is　a　bit　of　all　right；　ain't　it？'　remarked　Harlow　as　he　took　off　his　cap　and　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　forehead　with　his　handkerchief。

While　they　rested　they　kept　a　good　look　out　for　Rushton　or　Hunter；　who　were　likely　to　pass　by　at　any　moment。

At　first；　no　one　made　any　reply　to　Harlow's　observation；　for　they　were　all　out　of　breath　and　Philpot's　lean　fingers　trembled　violently　as　he　wiped　the　perspiration　from　his　face。

‘Yes；　mate；'　he　said　despondently；　after　a　while。　　‘It's　one　way　of　gettin'　a　livin'　and　there's　plenty　better　ways。'

In　addition　to　the　fact　that　his　rheumatism　was　exceptionally　bad；　he　felt　unusually　low…spirited　this　morning；　the　gloomy　weather　and　the　prospect　of　a　long　day　of　ladder　work　probably　had　something　to　do　with　it。

‘A　〃living〃　is　right；'　said　Barrington　bitterly。　　He　also　was　exhausted　with　the　struggle　up　the　hill　and　enraged　by　the　woebegone　appearance　of　poor　old　Philpot；　who　was　panting　and　quivering　from　the　exertion。

They　relapsed　into　silence。　　The　unaccountable　depression　that　possessed　Philpot　deprived　him　of　all　his　usual　jocularity　and　filled　him　with　melancholy　thoughts。　　He　had　travelled　up　and　down　this　hill　a　great　many　times　before　under　similar　circumstances　and　he　said　to　himself　that　if　he　had　half　a　quid　now　for　every　time　he　had　pushed　a　cart　up　this　road；　he　wouldn't　need　to　do　anyone　out　of　a　job　all　the　rest　of　his　life。

The　shop　where　he　had　been　apprenticed　used　to　be　just　down　at　the　bottom；　the　place　had　been　pulled　down　years　ago；　and　the　ground　was　now　occupied　by　more　pretentious　buildings。　　Not　quite　so　far　down　the　road　…　on　the　other　side　…　he　could　see　the　church　where　he　used　to　attend　Sunday　School　when　he　was　a　boy；　and　where　he　was　married　just　thirty　years　ago。　　Presently　…　when　they　reached　the　top　of　the　hill　…　he　would　be　able　to　look　across　the　valley　and　see　the　spire　of　the　other　church；　the　one　in　the　graveyard；　where　all　those　who　were　dear　to　him　had　been　one　by　one　laid　to　rest。　　He　felt　that　he　would　not　be　sorry　when　the　time　came　to　join　them　there。　　Possibly；　in　the　next　world　…　if　there　were　such　a　place　…　they　might　all　be　together　once　more。

He　was　suddenly　aroused　from　these　thoughts　by　an　exclamation　from　Harlow。

‘Look　out！　Here　comes　Rushton。'

They　immediately　resumed　their　journey。　　Rushton　was　coming　up　the　hill　in　his　dog…cart　with　Grinder　sitting　by　his　side。　　They　passed　so　closely　that　Philpot　…　who　was　on　that　side　of　the　cart　…　was　splashed　with　mud　from　the　wheels　of　the　trap。

‘Them's　some　of　your　chaps；　ain't　they？'　remarked　Grinder。

‘Yes；'　replied　Rushton。　　‘We're　doing　a　job　up　this　way。'

‘I　should　'ave　thought　it　would　pay　you　better　to　use　a　'orse　for　sich　work　as　that；'　said　Grinder。

‘We　do　use　the　horses　whenever　it's　necessary　for　very　big　loads；　you　know；'　answered　Rushton；　and　added　with　a　laugh：　‘But　the　donkeys　are　quite　strong　enough　for　such　a　job　as　that。'

The　‘donkeys'　struggled　on　up　the　hill　for　about　another　hundred　yards　and　then　they　were　forced　to　halt　again。

‘We　mustn't　stop　long；　you　know；'　said　Harlow。　　‘Most　likely　he's　gone　to　the　job；　and　he'll　wait　to　see　how　long　it　takes　us　to　get　there。'

Barrington　felt　inclined　to　say　that　in　that　case　Rushton　would　have　to　wait；　but　he　remained　silent；　for　he　remembered　that　although　he　personally　did　not　care　a　brass　button　whether　he　got　the　sack　or　not；　the　others　were　not　so　fortunately　circumstanced。

While　they　were　resting；　another　two…legged　donkey　passed　by　pushing　another　cart　…　or　rather；　holding　it　back；　for　he　was　coming　slowly　down　the　hill。　　Another　Heir　of　all　the　ages　…　another　Imperialist　…　a　degraded；　brutalized　wretch；　clad　in　filthy；　stinking　rags；　his　toes　protruding　from　the　rotten　broken　boots　that　were　tied　with　bits　of　string　upon　his　stockingless　feet。　　The　ramshackle　cart　was　loaded　with　empty　bottles　and　putrid　rags；　heaped　loosely　in　the　cart　and　packed　into　a　large　sack。　　Old　coats　and　trousers；　dresses；　petticoats；　and　under…clothing；　greasy；　mildewed　and　malodorous。　　As　he　crept　along　with　his　eyes　on　the　ground；　the　man　gave　utterance　at　intervals　to　uncouth；　inarticulate　sounds。

‘That's　another　way　of　gettin'　a　livin'；'　said　Sawkins　with　a　laugh　as　the　miserable　creature　slunk　past。

Harlow　also　laughed；　and　Barrington　regarded　them　curiously。　　He　thought　it　strange　that　they　did　not　seem　to　realize　that　they　might　some　day　become　like　this　man　themselves。

‘I've　often　wondered　what　they　does　with　all　them　dirty　old　rags；'　said　Philpot。

‘Made　into　paper；'　replied　Harlow；　briefly。

‘Some　of　them　are；'　said　Barrington；　‘and　some　are　manufactured　into　shoddy　cloth　and　made　into　Sunday　clothes　for　working　men。

‘There's　all　sorts　of　different　ways　of　gettin'　a　livin'；'　remarked　Sawkins；　after　a　pause。　　‘I　read　in　a　paper　the　other　day　about　a　bloke　wot　goes　about　lookin'　for　open　trap　doors　and　cellar　flaps　in　front　of　shops。　　As　soon　as　he　spotted　one　open；　he　used　to　go　and　fall　down　in　it；　and　then　he'd　be　took　to　the　'orspital；　and　when　he　got　better　he　used　to　go　and　threaten　to　bring　a　action　against　the　shop…keeper　and　get　damages；　and　most　of　'em　used　to　part　up　without　goin'　in　front　of　the　judge　at　all。　　But　one　day　a　slop　was　a　watchin'　of　'im；　and　seen　'im　chuck　'isself　down　one；　and　when　they　picked　'im　up　they　found　he'd　broke　his　leg。　　So　they　took　'im　to　the　'orspital　and　when　he　came　out　and　went　round　to　the　shop　and　started　talkin'　about　bringin'　a　action　for　damages；　the　slop　collared　'im　and　they　give　'im　six　months。'

‘Yes；　I　read　about　that；'　said　Harlow；　‘and　there　was　another　case　of　a　chap　who　was　run　over　by　a　motor；　and　they　tried　to　make　out　as　'e　put　'isself　in　the　way　on　purpose；　but　'e　got　some　money　out　of　the　swell　it　belonged　to；　a　'undered　pound　I　think　it　was。'

‘I　only　wish　as　one　of　their　motors　would　run　inter　me；'　said　Philpot；　making　a　feeble　attempt　at　a　joke。　　‘I　lay　I'd　get　some　a'　me　own　back　out　of　'em。'

The　others　laughed；　and　Harlow　was　about　to　make　some　reply　but　at　that　moment　a　cyclist　appeared　coming　down　the　hill　from　the　direction　of　the　job。　　It　was　Nimrod；　so　they　resumed　their　journey　once　more　and　presently　Hunter　shot　past　on　his　machine　without　taking　any　notice　of　them。。。

When　they　arrived　they　found　that　Rushton　had　not　been　there　at　all；　but　Nimrod　had。　　Crass　said　that　he　had　kicked　up　no　end　of　a　row　because　they　had　not　called　at　the　yard　at　six　o'clock　that　morning　for　the　ladder；　instead　of　going　for　it　after　breakfast　…　making　two　journeys　instead　of　one；　and　he　had　also　been　ratty　because　the　big　gable　had　not　been　started　the　first　thing　that　morning。

They　carried　the　ladder　into　the　garden　and　laid　it　on　the　ground　along　the　side　of　the　house　where　the　gable　was。　　A　brick　wall　about　eight　feet　high　separated　the　grounds　of　‘The　Refuge'　from　those　of　the　premises　next　door。　　Between　this　wall　and　the　side　wall　of　the　house　was　a　space　about　six　feet　wide　and　this　space　formed　a　kind　of　alley