the ragged trousered philanthropists-第11章

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‘What's　it　come　to？'　asked　Ruth。

‘Forty…four　and　tenpence。'

‘I　knew　we　wouldn't　have　enough；'　said　Ruth；　wearily。　　‘Now　if　you　think　I　manage　so　badly；　p'raps　you　can　tell　me　which　of　these　things　we　ought　to　leave　out。'

‘We'd　be　all　right　if　it　wasn't　for　the　debts；'　said　Easton；　doggedly。

‘When　you're　not　working；　we　must　either　get　into　debt　or　starve。'

Easton　made　no　answer。

‘What'll　we　do　about　the　rates？'　asked　Ruth。

‘I'm　sure　I　don't　know：　there's　nothing　left　to　pawn　except　my　black　coat　and　vest。　　You　might　get　something　on　that。'

‘It'll　have　to　be　paid　somehow；'　said　Ruth；　‘or　you'll　be　taken　off　to　jail　for　a　month；　the　same　as　Mrs　Newman's　husband　was　last　winter。'

‘Well；　you'd　better　take　the　coat　and　vest　and　see　what　you　can　get　on　'em　tomorrow。'

‘Yes；'　said　Ruth；　‘and　there's　that　brown　silk　dress　of　mine　…　you　know；　the　one　I　wore　when　we　was　married　…　I　might　get　something　on　that；　because　we　won't　get　enough　on　the　coat　and　vest。　　I　don't　like　parting　with　the　dress；　although　I　never　wear　it；　but　we'll　be　sure　to　be　able　to　get　it　out　again；　won't　we？'

‘Of　course；'　said　Easton。

They　remained　silent　for　some　time；　Easton　staring　at　the　list　of　debts　and　the　letters。　　She　was　wondering　if　he　still　thought　she　managed　badly；　and　what　he　would　do　about　it。　　She　knew　she　had　always　done　her　best。　　At　last　she　said；　wistfully；　trying　to　speak　plainly　for　there　seemed　to　be　a　lump　in　her　throat：　‘And　what　about　tomorrow？　Would　you　like　to　spend　the　money　yourself；　or　shall　I　manage　as　I've　done　before；　or　will　you　tell　me　what　to　do？'

‘I　don't　know；　dear；'　said　Easton；　sheepishly。　　‘I　think　you'd　better　do　as　you　think　best。'

‘Oh；　I'll　manage　all　right；　dear；　you'll　see；'　replied　Ruth；　who　seemed　to　think　it　a　sort　of　honour　to　be　allowed　to　starve　herself　and　wear　shabby　clothes。

The　baby；　who　had　been　for　some　time　quietly　sitting　upon　his　mother's　lap；　looking　wonderingly　at　the　fire　…　his　teeth　appeared　to　trouble　him　less　since　he　got　rid　of　the　eggs　and　bacon　and　potatoes　…　now　began　to　nod　and　doze；　which　Easton　perceiving；　suggested　that　the　infant　should　not　be　allowed　to　go　to　sleep　with　an　empty　stomach；　because　it　would　probably　wake　up　hungry　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　He　therefore　work　him　up　as　much　as　possible　and　mashed　a　little　of　the　bread　and　toasted　cheese　with　a　little　warm　milk。　　Then　taking　the　baby　from　Ruth　he　began　to　try　to　induce　it　to　eat。　　As　soon；　however；　as　the　child　understood　his　object；　it　began　to　scream　at　the　top　of　its　voice；　closing　its　lips　firmly　and　turning　its　head　rapidly　from　side　to　side　every　time　the　spoon　approached　its　mouth。　　It　made　such　a　dreadful　noise　that　Easton　at　last　gave　in。　　He　began　to　walk　about　the　room　with　it；　and　presently　the　child　sobbed　itself　to　sleep。　After　putting　the　baby　into　its　cradle　Ruth　set　about　preparing　Easton's　breakfast　and　packing　it　into　his　basket。　　This　did　not　take　very　long；　there　being　only　bread　and　butter　…　or；　to　be　more　correct；　margarine。

Then　she　poured　what　tea　was　left　in　the　tea…pot　into　a　small　saucepan　and　placed　it　on　the　top　of　the　oven；　but　away　from　the　fire；　cut　two　more　slices　of　bread　and　spread　on　them　all　the　margarine　that　was　left；　then　put　them　on　a　plate　on　the　table；　covering　them　with　a　saucer　to　prevent　them　getting　hard　and　dry　during　the　night。　　Near　the　plate　she　placed　a　clean　cup　and　saucer　and　the　milk　and　sugar。

In　the　morning　Easton　would　light　the　fire　and　warm　up　the　tea　in　the　saucepan　so　as　to　have　a　cup　of　tea　before　going　out。　　If　Ruth　was　awake　and　he　was　not　pressed　for　time；　he　generally　took　a　cup　of　tea　to　her　in　bed。

Nothing　now　remained　to　be　done　but　to　put　some　coal　and　wood　ready　in　the　fender　so　that　there　would　be　no　unnecessary　delay　in　the　morning。

The　baby　was　still　sleeping　and　Ruth　did　not　like　to　wake　him　up　yet　to　dress　him　for　the　night。　　Easton　was　sitting　by　the　fire　smoking；　so　everything　being　done；　Ruth　sat　down　at　the　table　and　began　sewing。　Presently　she　spoke：

‘I　wish　you'd　let　me　try　to　let　that　back　room　upstairs：　the　woman　next　door　has　got　hers　let　unfurnished　to　an　elderly　woman　and　her　husband　for　two　shillings　a　week。　　If　we　could　get　someone　like　that　it　would　be　better　than　having　an　empty　room　in　the　house。'

‘And　we'd　always　have　them　messing　about　down　here；　cooking　and　washing　and　one　thing　and　another；'　objected　Easton；　‘they'd　be　more　trouble　than　they　way　worth。'

‘Well；　we　might　try　and　furnish　it。　　There's　Mrs　Crass　across　the　road　has　got　two　lodgers　in　one　room。　　They　pay　her　twelve　shillings　a　week　each；　board；　lodging　and　washing。　　That's　one　pound　four　she　has　coming　in　reglar　every　week。　　If　we　could　do　the　same　we'd　very　soon　be　out　of　debt。'

‘What's　the　good　of　talking？　　You'd　never　be　able　to　do　the　work　even　if　we　had　the　furniture。'

‘Oh；　the　work's　nothing；'　replied　Ruth；　‘and　as　for　the　furniture；　we've　got　plenty　of　spare　bedclothes；　and　we　could　easily　manage　without　a　washstand　in　our　room　for　a　bit；　so　the　only　thing　we　really　want　is　a　small　bedstead　and　mattress；　we　could　get　them　very　cheap　second…hand。'

‘There　ought　to　be　a　chest　of　drawers；'　said　Easton　doubtfully。

‘I　don't　think　so；'　replied　Ruth。　　‘There's　a　cupboard　in　the　room　and　whoever　took　it　would　be　sure　to　have　a　box。'

‘Well；　if　you　think　you　can　do　the　work　I've　no　objection；'　said　Easton。　　‘It'll　be　a　nuisance　having　a　stranger　in　the　way　all　the　time；　but　I　suppose　we　must　do　something　of　the　sort　or　else　we'll　have　to　give　up　the　house　and　take　a　couple　of　rooms　somewhere。　　That　would　be　worse　than　having　lodgers　ourselves。

‘Let's　go　and　have　a　look　at　the　room；'　he　added；　getting　up　and　taking　the　lamp　from　the　wall。

They　had　to　go　up　two　flights　of　stairs　before　arriving　at　the　top　landing；　where　there　were　two　doors；　one　leading　into　the　front　room　…　their　bedroom　…　and　the　other　into　the　empty　back　room。　　These　two　doors　were　at　right　angles　to　each　other。　　The　wallpaper　in　the　back　room　was　damaged　and　soiled　in　several　places。

‘There's　nearly　a　whole　roll　of　this　paper　on　the　top　of　the　cupboard；'　said　Ruth。　　‘You　could　easily　mend　all　those　places。　　We　could　hag　up　a　few　almanacks　on　the　walls；　our　washstand　could　go　there　by　the　window；　a　chair　just　there；　and　the　bed　along　that　wall　behind　the　door。　　It's　only　a　small　window；　so　I　could　easily　manage　to　make　a　curtain　out　of　something。　　I'm　sure　I　could　make　the　room　look　quite　nice　without　spending　hardly　anything。'

Easton　reached　down　the　roll　of　paper。　　It　was　the　same　pattern　as　that　on　the　wall。　　The　latter　was　a　good　deal　faded；　of　course；　but　it　would　not　matter　much　if　the　patches　showed　a　little。　　They　returned　to　the　kitchen。

‘Do　you　think　you　know　anyone　who　would　take　it？'　asked　Ruth。　　Easton　smoked　thoughtfully。

‘No；'　he　said　at　length。　　‘But　I'll　mention　it　to　one　or　two　of　the　chaps　on　the　job；　they　might　know　of　someone。'

‘And　I'll　get　Mrs　Crass　to　ask　her　lodgers：　p'raps　they　might　have　a　friend　what　would　like　to　live　near　them。'

So　it　was　settled；　and　as　the　fire　was　nearly　out　and　it　was　getting　late；　they　prepared　to　retire　for　the　night。　　The　baby　was　still　sleeping　so　Easton　lifted　it；　cradle　and　all；　and　carried　it　up　the　narrow　staircase　into　the　front　bedroom；　Ruth　leading　the　way；　carrying　the　lamp　and　some　clothes　for　the　child。　　So　that　the　infant　might　be　within　easy　reach　of　its　mother　during　the　night；　two　chairs　were　arranged　close　to　her　side　of　the　bed　and　the　cradle　placed　on　them。

‘Now　we've　forgot　the　clock；'　said　Easton；　pausing。　　He　was　half　undressed　and　had　already　removed　his　slippers。

‘I'll　slip　down　and　get　it；'　said　Ruth。

‘Never　mind；　I'll　go；'　said　Easton；　beginning　to　put　his　slippers　on　again。

‘No；　you　get　into　bed。　　I've　not　started　undressing　yet。　　I'll　get　it；'　replied　Ruth　who　was　already　on　her　way　down。

‘I　don't　know　as　it　was　worth　the　trouble　of　going　down；'　said　Ruth　when　she　returned　with　the　clock。　　‘It　stopped　three　or　four　times　today。'

‘Well；　I　hope　it　don't　stop　in　the　night；'　Easton　said。　　‘It　would　be　a　bit　of　all　right　not　knowing　what　time　it　was　in　the　morning。　　I　suppose　the　next　thing　will　be　that　we'll　have　to　buy　a　new　clock。'

He　woke　several　times　during　the　night　and　struck　a　match　to　see　if　it　was　yet　time　to　get　up。　　At　half　past　two　the　clock　was　still　going　and　he　again　fell　asleep。　　The　next　time　he　work　up　the　ticking　had　ceased。　　He　wondered　what　time　it　was？　　It　was　still　very　dark；　but　that　was　nothing　to　go　by；　because　it　was　always　dark　at　six　now。　　He　was　wide　awake：　it　must　be　nearly　time　to　get　up。　　It　would　never　do　to　be　late；　he　might　get　the　sack。

He　got　up　and　dressed　himself。　　Ruth　was　asleep；　so　he　crept　quietly　downstairs；　lit　the　fire　and　heated　the　tea。　　When　it　was　ready　he　went　softly　upstairs　again。　　Ruth　was　still　sleeping；　so　he　decided　not　to　disturb　her。　　Returning　to　the　kitchen；　he　poured　out　and　drank　a　cup　of　tea；　put　on　his　boots；　overcoat　and　hat　and　taking　his　basket　went　out　of　the　house。

The　rain　was　still　falling　and　it　was　very　cold　and　dark。　　There　was　no　one　else　in　the　street。　　Easton　shivered　as　he　walked　along　wondering　what　time　it　could　be。　　He　remembered　there　was　a　clock　over　the　front　of　a　jeweller's　shop　a　little　way　down　the　main　road。　　When　he　arrived　at　this　place　he　found　that　the　clock　being　so　high　up　he　could　not　see　the　figures　on　the　face　distinctly；　because　it　was　still　very　dark。　　He　stood　staring　for　a　few　minutes　vainly　trying　to　see　what　time　it　was　when　suddenly　the　light　of　a　bull's…eye　lantern　was　flashed　into　his　eyes。

‘You're　about　very　early；'　said　a　voice；　the　owner　of　which　Easton　could　not　see。　　The　light　blinded　him。

‘What　time　is　it？'　said　Easton。　　‘I've　got　to　get　to　work　at　seven　and　our　clock　stopped　during　the　night。'

‘Where　are　you　working？'

‘At　〃The　Cave〃　in　Elmore　Road。　　You　know；　near　the　old　toll　gate。'

‘What　are　you　doing　there　and　who　are　you　working　for？'　the　policeman　demanded。

Easton　explained。

‘Well；'　said　the　constable；　‘it's　very　strange　that　you　should　be　wandering　about　at　this　hour。　　It's　only　about　three…quarters　of　an　hour's　walk　from　here　to　Elmore　Road。　　You　say　you've　got　to　get　there　at　seven；　and　it's　only　a　quarter　to　four　now。　　Where　do　you　live？　What's　your　name？'　　Easton　gave　his　name　and　address　and　began　repeating　the　story　about　the　clock　having　stopped。

‘What　you　say　may　be　all　right　or　it　may　not；'　interrupted　the　policeman。　　‘I'm　not　sure　but　that　I　ought　to　take　you　to　the　station。　All　I　know　about　you　is　that　I　find　you　loitering　outside　this　shop。　What　have　you　got　in　that　basket？'

‘Only　my　breakfast；'　Easton　said；　opening　the　basket　and　displaying　its　contents。

‘I'm　inclined　to　believe　what　you　say；'　said　the　policeman；　after　a　pause。　　‘But　to　make　quite　sure　I'll　go　home　with　you。　　It's　on　my　beat；　and　I　don't　want　to　run　you　in　if　you're　what　you　say　you　are；　but　I　should　advise　you　to　buy　a　decent　clock；　or　you'll　be　getting　yourself　into　trouble。'

When　they　arrived　at　the　house　Easton　opened　the　door；　and　after　making　some　entries　in　his　note…book　the　officer　went　away；　much　to　the　relief　of　Easton；　who　went　upstairs；　set　the　hands　of　the　clock　right　and　st