°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > the ragged trousered philanthropists >

µÚ120ÕÂ

the ragged trousered philanthropists-µÚ120ÕÂ

С˵£º the ragged trousered philanthropists ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



lf¡¡and¡¡the¡¡child¡¡to¡¡provide¡¡for¡£

At¡¡first£»¡¡whenever¡¡he¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡Owen£»¡¡they¡¡used¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡Ruth£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡be¡¡more¡¡correct£»¡¡Easton¡¡used¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡one¡¡day¡¡when¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡were¡¡working¡¡together¡¡Owen¡¡had¡¡expressed¡¡himself¡¡rather¡¡offensively¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡Easton¡¡was¡¡more¡¡to¡¡blame¡¡than¡¡she¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡afterwards¡¡they¡¡avoided¡¡the¡¡subject£»¡¡although¡¡Easton¡¡found¡¡it¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡the¡¡thoughts¡¡the¡¡other¡¡man's¡¡words¡¡suggested¡£

Now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡Ruth¡¡and¡¡learnt¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡still¡¡working¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡place£»¡¡and¡¡once¡¡he¡¡met¡¡her¡¡suddenly¡¡and¡¡unexpectedly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡passed¡¡each¡¡other¡¡hurriedly¡¡and¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡see¡¡the¡¡scarlet¡¡flush¡¡that¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡dyed¡¡her¡¡face£»¡¡nor¡¡the¡¡deathly¡¡pallor¡¡that¡¡succeeded¡¡it¡£

He¡¡never¡¡went¡¡to¡¡Owen's¡¡place¡¡or¡¡sent¡¡any¡¡communication¡¡to¡¡Ruth£»¡¡nor¡¡did¡¡she¡¡ever¡¡send¡¡him¡¡any£»¡¡but¡¡although¡¡Easton¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡it¡¡she¡¡frequently¡¡saw¡¡Freddie£»¡¡for¡¡when¡¡Elsie¡¡Linden¡¡took¡¡the¡¡child¡¡out¡¡she¡¡often¡¡called¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Mrs¡¡Owen¡£

As¡¡time¡¡went¡¡on¡¡and¡¡the¡¡resentment¡¡he¡¡had¡¡felt¡¡towards¡¡her¡¡lost¡¡its¡¡first¡¡bitterness£»¡¡Easton¡¡began¡¡to¡¡think¡¡there¡¡was¡¡perhaps¡¡some¡¡little¡¡justification¡¡for¡¡what¡¡Owen¡¡had¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡gradually¡¡there¡¡grew¡¡within¡¡him¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡desire¡¡for¡¡reconciliation¡¡¡­¡¡to¡¡start¡¡afresh¡¡and¡¡to¡¡forget¡¡all¡¡that¡¡had¡¡happened£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡more¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡this¡¡the¡¡more¡¡hopeless¡¡and¡¡impossible¡¡of¡¡realization¡¡it¡¡seemed¡£

Although¡¡perhaps¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡this¡¡desire¡¡arose¡¡solely¡¡from¡¡selfish¡¡motives¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡money¡¡he¡¡earned¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡melt¡¡away¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡received¡¡it£»¡¡to¡¡his¡¡surprise¡¡he¡¡found¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡nearly¡¡so¡¡well¡¡off¡¡in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡personal¡¡comfort¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡formerly£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡house¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡more¡¡dreary¡¡and¡¡desolate¡¡as¡¡the¡¡wintry¡¡days¡¡dragged¡¡slowly¡¡by¡£¡¡¡¡Sometimes¡¡¡­¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡the¡¡money¡¡¡­¡¡he¡¡sought¡¡forgetfulness¡¡in¡¡the¡¡society¡¡of¡¡Crass¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡frequenters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Cricketers£»¡¡but¡¡somehow¡¡or¡¡other¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡take¡¡the¡¡same¡¡pleasure¡¡in¡¡the¡¡conversation¡¡of¡¡these¡¡people¡¡as¡¡formerly£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡found¡¡it¡¡¡­¡¡as¡¡he¡¡now¡¡sometimes¡¡wondered¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡¡­¡¡so¡¡entertaining¡¡as¡¡to¡¡almost¡¡make¡¡him¡¡forget¡¡Ruth's¡¡existence¡£

One¡¡evening¡¡about¡¡three¡¡weeks¡¡before¡¡Christmas£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡and¡¡Owen¡¡were¡¡walking¡¡homewards¡¡together¡¡from¡¡work£»¡¡Easton¡¡reverted¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡to¡¡their¡¡former¡¡conversation¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡spoke¡¡with¡¡a¡¡superior¡¡air£º¡¡his¡¡manner¡¡and¡¡tone¡¡indicating¡¡that¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡was¡¡behaving¡¡with¡¡great¡¡generosity¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡be¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡forgive¡¡her¡¡and¡¡have¡¡her¡¡back£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡if¡¡she¡¡would¡¡come£º¡¡but¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡tolerate¡¡the¡¡child¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡an¡¡orphanage¡¡or¡¡some¡¡similar¡¡institution£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡Ruth¡¡would¡¡never¡¡consent¡¡to¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡her¡¡stepmother¡¡would¡¡not¡¡take¡¡it¡£

¡®If¡¡you¡¡can¡¡persuade¡¡her¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡we'll¡¡take¡¡the¡¡child£»'¡¡said¡¡Owen¡£

¡®Do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡your¡¡wife¡¡would¡¡be¡¡willing£¿'

¡®She¡¡has¡¡already¡¡suggested¡¡doing¡¡so¡£'

¡®To¡¡Ruth£¿'

¡®No£º¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡a¡¡possible¡¡way¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡wife¡¡would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡child¡£'

¡®But¡¡would¡¡you¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡afford¡¡it£¿'¡¡said¡¡Easton¡£

¡®We¡¡should¡¡manage¡¡all¡¡right¡£'

¡®Of¡¡course£»'¡¡said¡¡Easton£»¡¡¡®if¡¡Slyme¡¡comes¡¡back¡¡he¡¡might¡¡agree¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡something¡¡for¡¡its¡¡keep¡£'

Owen¡¡flushed¡£

¡®I¡¡wouldn't¡¡take¡¡his¡¡money¡£'

After¡¡a¡¡long¡¡pause¡¡Easton¡¡continued£º¡¡¡®Would¡¡you¡¡mind¡¡asking¡¡Mrs¡¡Owen¡¡to¡¡suggest¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Ruth£¿'

¡®If¡¡you¡¡like¡¡I'll¡¡get¡¡her¡¡to¡¡suggest¡¡it¡¡¡­¡¡as¡¡a¡¡message¡¡from¡¡you¡£'

¡®What¡¡I¡¡meant£»'¡¡said¡¡Easton¡¡hesitatingly£»¡¡¡®was¡¡that¡¡your¡¡wife¡¡might¡¡just¡¡suggest¡¡it¡¡¡­¡¡casual¡¡like¡¡¡­¡¡and¡¡advise¡¡her¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡best¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡you¡¡could¡¡let¡¡me¡¡know¡¡what¡¡Ruth¡¡said¡£'

¡®No£»'¡¡replied¡¡Owen£»¡¡unable¡¡any¡¡longer¡¡to¡¡control¡¡his¡¡resentment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other's¡¡manner£»¡¡¡®as¡¡things¡¡stand¡¡now£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡not¡¡for¡¡the¡¡other¡¡child£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡advise¡¡her¡¡to¡¡have¡¡nothing¡¡further¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¡You¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡acting¡¡a¡¡very¡¡generous¡¡part¡¡in¡¡being¡¡¡¨willing¡¨¡¡to¡¡have¡¡her¡¡back£»¡¡but¡¡she's¡¡better¡¡off¡¡now¡¡than¡¡she¡¡was¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡see¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡¡­¡¡except¡¡for¡¡the¡¡other¡¡child¡¡¡­¡¡why¡¡she¡¡should¡¡go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡understand¡¡it£»¡¡you¡¡had¡¡a¡¡good¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡you¡¡ill¡­treated¡¡her¡£'

¡®I¡¡never¡¡ill¡­treated¡¡her£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡never¡¡raised¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡her¡¡¡­¡¡at¡¡least¡¡only¡¡once£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡hurt¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Does¡¡she¡¡say¡¡I¡¡ill¡­treated¡¡her¡£'

¡®Oh¡¡no£º¡¡from¡¡what¡¡my¡¡wife¡¡tells¡¡me¡¡she¡¡only¡¡blames¡¡herself£»¡¡but¡¡I'm¡¡drawing¡¡my¡¡own¡¡conclusions¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡may¡¡not¡¡have¡¡struck¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡did¡¡worse¡¡¡­¡¡you¡¡treated¡¡her¡¡with¡¡indifference¡¡and¡¡exposed¡¡her¡¡to¡¡temptation¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡has¡¡happened¡¡is¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡result¡¡of¡¡your¡¡neglect¡¡and¡¡want¡¡of¡¡care¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡responsibility¡¡for¡¡what¡¡has¡¡happened¡¡is¡¡mainly¡¡yours£»¡¡but¡¡apparently¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡pose¡¡now¡¡as¡¡being¡¡very¡¡generous¡¡and¡¡to¡¡¡¨forgive¡¡her¡¨¡¡¡­¡¡you're¡¡¡¨willing¡¨¡¡to¡¡take¡¡her¡¡back£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡more¡¡fitting¡¡that¡¡you¡¡should¡¡ask¡¡her¡¡to¡¡forgive¡¡you¡£'

Easton¡¡made¡¡no¡¡answer¡¡and¡¡after¡¡a¡¡long¡¡silence¡¡the¡¡other¡¡continued£º

¡®I¡¡would¡¡not¡¡advise¡¡her¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡you¡¡on¡¡such¡¡terms¡¡as¡¡you¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡think¡¡right£»¡¡because¡¡if¡¡you¡¡became¡¡reconciled¡¡on¡¡such¡¡terms¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡either¡¡of¡¡you¡¡could¡¡be¡¡happy¡£¡¡¡¡Your¡¡only¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡happiness¡¡is¡¡to¡¡realize¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡both¡¡done¡¡wrong£»¡¡that¡¡each¡¡of¡¡you¡¡has¡¡something¡¡to¡¡forgive£»¡¡to¡¡forgive¡¡and¡¡never¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡it¡¡again¡£'

Easton¡¡made¡¡no¡¡reply¡¡and¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡afterwards£»¡¡their¡¡ways¡¡diverging£»¡¡they¡¡wished¡¡each¡¡other¡¡¡®Good¡¡night'¡£

They¡¡were¡¡working¡¡for¡¡Rushton¡¡¡­¡¡painting¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡conservatory¡¡at¡¡Mr¡¡Sweater's¡¡house£»¡¡¡®The¡¡Cave'¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡job¡¡was¡¡finished¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day¡¡and¡¡at¡¡four¡¡o'clock¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡handcart£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡loaded¡¡with¡¡their¡¡ladders¡¡and¡¡other¡¡materials¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡took¡¡these¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡yard¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Friday¡¡night£»¡¡they¡¡went¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡front¡¡shop¡¡and¡¡handed¡¡in¡¡their¡¡time¡¡sheets¡£¡¡¡¡Afterwards£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡about¡¡to¡¡separate£»¡¡Easton¡¡again¡¡referred¡¡to¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡their¡¡conversation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡evening¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡very¡¡reserved¡¡and¡¡silent¡¡all¡¡day£»¡¡scarcely¡¡uttering¡¡a¡¡word¡¡except¡¡when¡¡the¡¡work¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡made¡¡it¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡now¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡catch¡¡in¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡as¡¡he¡¡spoke¡£

¡®I've¡¡been¡¡thinking¡¡over¡¡what¡¡you¡¡said¡¡last¡¡night£»¡¡it's¡¡quite¡¡true¡£¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡to¡¡blame¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡wrote¡¡to¡¡Ruth¡¡last¡¡night¡¡and¡¡admitted¡¡it¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡take¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡favour¡¡if¡¡you¡¡and¡¡your¡¡wife¡¡will¡¡say¡¡what¡¡you¡¡can¡¡to¡¡help¡¡me¡¡get¡¡her¡¡back¡£'

Owen¡¡stretched¡¡out¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡as¡¡the¡¡other¡¡took¡¡it£»¡¡said£º¡¡¡®You¡¡may¡¡rely¡¡on¡¡us¡¡both¡¡to¡¡do¡¡our¡¡best¡£'



Chapter¡¡51

The¡¡Widow's¡¡Son


The¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡when¡¡they¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡yard¡¡at¡¡half¡¡past¡¡eight¡¡o'clock¡¡Hunter¡¡told¡¡them¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡better¡¡come¡¡on¡¡Monday¡¡in¡¡case¡¡some¡¡work¡¡came¡¡in¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡accordingly¡¡went¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Monday£»¡¡and¡¡Tuesday¡¡and¡¡Wednesday£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡nothing¡¡¡®came¡¡in'¡¡of¡¡course¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡do¡¡any¡¡work¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡Thursday¡¡morning¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡was¡¡dark¡¡and¡¡bitterly¡¡cold¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡sky¡¡presented¡¡an¡¡unbroken¡¡expanse¡¡of¡¡dull¡¡grey¡¡and¡¡a¡¡keen¡¡north¡¡wind¡¡swept¡¡through¡¡the¡¡cheerless¡¡streets¡£¡¡¡¡Owen¡¡¡­¡¡who¡¡had¡¡caught¡¡cold¡¡whilst¡¡painting¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡of¡¡the¡¡conservatory¡¡at¡¡Sweater's¡¡house¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡week¡¡¡­¡¡did¡¡not¡¡get¡¡to¡¡the¡¡yard¡¡until¡¡ten¡¡o'clock¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡so¡¡ill¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡at¡¡all¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡needed¡¡the¡¡money¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡earn¡¡if¡¡there¡¡was¡¡anything¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡Strange¡¡though¡¡it¡¡may¡¡appear¡¡to¡¡the¡¡advocates¡¡of¡¡thrift£»¡¡although¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡fortunate¡¡as¡¡to¡¡be¡¡in¡¡employment¡¡when¡¡so¡¡many¡¡others¡¡were¡¡idle£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡saved¡¡any¡¡money¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡contrary£»¡¡during¡¡all¡¡the¡¡summer¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡afford¡¡to¡¡have¡¡proper¡¡food¡¡or¡¡clothing¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡week¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡money¡¡went¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡arrears¡¡of¡¡rent¡¡or¡¡some¡¡other¡¡debts£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡even¡¡whilst¡¡he¡¡was¡¡at¡¡work¡¡they¡¡had¡¡often¡¡to¡¡go¡¡without¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡necessaries¡¡of¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡broken¡¡boots£»¡¡shabby£»¡¡insufficient¡¡clothing£»¡¡and¡¡barely¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡eat¡£

The¡¡weather¡¡had¡¡become¡¡so¡¡bitterly¡¡cold¡¡that£»¡¡fearing¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡laid¡¡up¡¡if¡¡he¡¡went¡¡without¡¡it¡¡any¡¡longer£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡his¡¡overcoat¡¡out¡¡of¡¡pawn£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡week¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡almost¡¡starve¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡much¡¡better¡¡other¡¡weeks£»¡¡for¡¡lately¡¡he¡¡had¡¡only¡¡been¡¡making¡¡six¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡hours¡¡a¡¡day¡¡¡­¡¡from¡¡eight¡­thirty¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡till¡¡four¡¡o'clock¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡Saturday¡¡only¡¡four¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡hours¡¡¡­¡¡from¡¡half¡¡past¡¡eight¡¡till¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡made¡¡his¡¡wages¡¡¡­¡¡at¡¡sevenpence¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡¡­¡¡twenty¡­one¡¡shillings¡¡and¡¡sevenpence¡¡a¡¡week¡¡¡­¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡when¡¡there¡¡was¡¡work¡¡to¡¡do¡¡every¡¡day£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡not¡¡always¡£¡¡¡¡Sometimes¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡idle¡¡three¡¡days¡¡out¡¡of¡¡six¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡wages¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡got¡¡sixpence¡¡halfpenny¡¡came¡¡out¡¡at¡¡one¡¡pound¡¡and¡¡twopence¡¡¡­¡¡when¡¡they¡¡worked¡¡every¡¡day¡¡¡­¡¡and¡¡as¡¡for¡¡those¡¡who¡¡¡­¡¡like¡¡Sawkins¡¡¡­¡¡received¡¡only¡¡fivepence£»¡¡their¡¡week's¡¡wages¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡fifteen¡¡and¡¡sixpence¡£

When¡¡they¡¡were¡¡only¡¡employed¡¡for¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡days¡¡or¡¡perhaps¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hours£»¡¡their¡¡¡®Saturday¡¡night'¡¡sometimes¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡half¡¡a¡¡sovereign£»¡¡seven¡¡and¡¡sixpence£»¡¡five¡¡shillings¡¡or¡¡even¡¡less¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡said¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡better¡¡than¡¡nothing¡¡at¡¡all¡£

Many¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡married¡¡men£»¡¡so£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡make¡¡existence¡¡possible£»¡¡their¡¡wives¡¡went¡¡out¡¡charing¡¡or¡¡worked¡¡in¡¡laundries¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡children¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡up¡¡for¡¡the¡¡most¡¡part¡¡on¡¡¡®skim'¡¡milk£»¡¡bread£»¡¡margarine£»¡¡and¡¡adulterated¡¡tea¡£¡¡¡¡Many¡¡of¡¡these¡¡children¡¡¡­¡¡little¡¡mites¡¡of¡¡eight¡¡or¡¡nine¡¡years¡¡¡­¡¡went¡¡to¡¡work¡¡for¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡hours¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡before¡¡going¡¡to¡¡school£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡after¡¡school£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡day¡¡on¡¡Saturday£»¡¡carrying¡¡butchers'¡¡trays¡¡loaded¡¡with¡¡meat£»¡¡baskets¡¡of¡¡groceries¡¡and¡¡vegetables£»¡¡cans¡¡of¡¡paraffin¡¡oil£»¡¡selling¡¡or¡¡delivering¡¡newspapers£»¡¡and¡¡carrying¡¡milk¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡old¡¡enough¡¡they¡¡got¡¡Half¡¡Time¡¡certificates¡¡and¡¡directly¡¡they¡¡were¡¡fourteen¡¡they¡¡left¡¡school¡¡altogether¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡work¡¡all¡¡the¡¡day¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡were¡¡old¡¡enough¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡join¡¡the¡¡Army¡¡or¡¡Navy£»¡¡but¡¡were¡¡found¡¡physically¡¡unfit¡£

It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡much¡¡to¡¡be¡¡wondered¡¡at¡¡that¡¡when¡¡they¡¡became¡¡a¡¡little¡¡older¡¡they¡¡were¡¡so¡¡degenerate¡¡intellectually¡¡that¡¡they¡¡imagined¡¡that¡¡the¡¡surest¡¡way¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡better¡¡conditions¡¡would¡¡be¡¡to¡¡elect¡¡gangs¡¡of¡¡Liberal¡¡and¡¡Tory¡¡land¡­grabbers£»¡¡sweaters£»¡¡swindlers¡¡and¡¡lawyers¡¡to¡¡rule¡¡over¡¡them¡£

When¡¡Owen¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡yard¡¡he¡¡found¡¡Bert¡¡White¡¡cleaning¡¡out¡¡the¡¡dirty¡¡pots¡¡in¡¡the¡¡paint¡­shop¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡noise¡¡he¡¡made¡¡with¡¡the¡¡scraping¡¡knife¡¡prevented¡¡him¡¡from¡¡hearing¡¡Owen's¡¡approach¡¡and¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡stood¡¡watching¡¡him¡¡for¡¡some¡¡minutes¡¡without¡¡speaking¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡stone¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡paint¡¡shop¡¡was¡¡damp¡¡and¡¡shiny¡¡and¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡place¡¡was¡¡chilly¡¡as¡¡a¡¡tomb¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡was¡¡trembling¡¡with¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡pitifully¡¡undersized¡¡and¡¡frail¡¡as¡¡he¡¡bent¡¡over¡¡his¡¡work¡¡with¡¡an¡¡old¡¡apron¡¡girt¡¡about¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Because¡¡it¡¡was¡¡so¡¡cold¡¡he¡¡was¡¡wearing¡¡his¡¡jacket¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ends¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sleeves¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡clean£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡them¡¡getting¡¡any¡¡dirtier£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡were¡¡already¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡condition¡¡as¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡his¡¡attire£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡thickly¡¡encrusted¡¡with¡¡dried¡¡paint¡¡of¡¡many¡¡colours£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡fingernails¡¡were¡¡grimed¡¡with¡¡it¡£

As¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡boy¡¡bending¡¡over¡¡his¡¡task£»¡¡Owen¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡Frankie£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡feeling¡¡akin¡¡to¡¡terror¡¡wondered¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡would¡¡ever¡¡be¡¡in¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡plight¡£

When¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡Owen£»¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡left¡¡off¡¡working¡¡and¡¡wished¡¡him¡¡good¡¡morning£»¡¡remarking¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡very¡¡cold¡£

¡®Why¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡light¡¡a¡¡fire£¿¡¡¡¡There's¡¡lots¡¡of¡¡wood¡¡lying¡¡about¡¡the¡¡yard¡£'

¡®No£»'¡¡said¡¡Bert¡¡shaking¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡¡®That¡¡would¡¡never¡¡do£¡¡¡¡¡Misery¡¡wouldn't¡¡'arf¡¡ramp¡¡if¡¡'e¡¡caught¡¡me¡¡at¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡used¡¡to

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ