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the ragged trousered philanthropists-µÚ121ÕÂ

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

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¡®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¡¡'ave¡¡a¡¡fire¡¡'ere¡¡last¡¡winter¡¡till¡¡Rushton¡¡found¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡'e¡¡kicked¡¡up¡¡an¡¡orful¡¡row¡¡and¡¡told¡¡me¡¡to¡¡move¡¡meself¡¡and¡¡get¡¡some¡¡work¡¡done¡¡and¡¡then¡¡I¡¡wouldn't¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡cold¡£'

¡®Oh£»¡¡he¡¡said¡¡that£»¡¡did¡¡he£¿'¡¡said¡¡Owen£»¡¡his¡¡pale¡¡face¡¡becoming¡¡suddenly¡¡suffused¡¡with¡¡blood¡£¡¡¡¡¡®We'll¡¡see¡¡about¡¡that¡£'

He¡¡went¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡yard¡¡and¡¡crossing¡¡over¡¡to¡¡where¡¡¡­¡¡under¡¡a¡¡shed¡¡¡­¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡great¡¡heap¡¡of¡¡waste¡¡wood£»¡¡stuff¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡out¡¡of¡¡places¡¡where¡¡Rushton¡¡&¡¡Co¡£¡¡had¡¡made¡¡alterations£»¡¡he¡¡gathered¡¡an¡¡armful¡¡of¡¡it¡¡and¡¡was¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡the¡¡paintshop¡¡when¡¡Sawkins¡¡accosted¡¡him¡£

¡®You¡¡mustn't¡¡go¡¡burnin'¡¡any¡¡of¡¡that£»¡¡you¡¡know£¡¡¡¡¡That's¡¡all¡¡got¡¡to¡¡be¡¡saved¡¡and¡¡took¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bloke's¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡Misery¡¡spoke¡¡about¡¡it¡¡only¡¡this¡¡mornin'¡£'

Owen¡¡did¡¡not¡¡answer¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡into¡¡the¡¡shop¡¡and¡¡after¡¡throwing¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡fireplace¡¡he¡¡poured¡¡some¡¡old¡¡paint¡¡over¡¡it£»¡¡and£»¡¡applying¡¡a¡¡match£»¡¡produced¡¡a¡¡roaring¡¡fire¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡brought¡¡in¡¡several¡¡more¡¡armfuls¡¡of¡¡wood¡¡and¡¡piled¡¡them¡¡in¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shop¡£¡¡¡¡Bert¡¡took¡¡no¡¡part¡¡in¡¡these¡¡proceedings£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡first¡¡rather¡¡disapproved¡¡of¡¡them¡¡because¡¡he¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡trouble¡¡when¡¡Misery¡¡came£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡was¡¡an¡¡accomplished¡¡fact¡¡he¡¡warmed¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡shifted¡¡his¡¡work¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bench¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡benefit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heat¡£

Owen¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡about¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡Hunter¡¡would¡¡return£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡that¡¡disciple¡¡did¡¡not¡¡appear£»¡¡he¡¡decided¡¡not¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡any¡¡longer¡£¡¡Before¡¡leaving¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡Bert¡¡some¡¡instructions£º

¡®Keep¡¡up¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡old¡¡paint¡¡that¡¡you¡¡can¡¡scrape¡¡off¡¡those¡¡things¡¡and¡¡any¡¡other¡¡old¡¡paint¡¡or¡¡rubbish¡¡that's¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡whenever¡¡it¡¡grows¡¡dull¡¡put¡¡more¡¡wood¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡There's¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡old¡¡stuff¡¡here¡¡that's¡¡of¡¡no¡¡use¡¡except¡¡to¡¡be¡¡thrown¡¡away¡¡or¡¡burnt¡£¡¡¡¡Burn¡¡it¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡Hunter¡¡says¡¡anything£»¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡that¡¡I¡¡lit¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡burning¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡want¡¡more¡¡wood£»¡¡go¡¡out¡¡and¡¡take¡¡it¡£'

¡®All¡¡right£»'¡¡replied¡¡Bert¡£

On¡¡his¡¡way¡¡out¡¡Owen¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡Sawkins¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡manner¡¡was¡¡so¡¡menacing£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡so¡¡pale£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡such¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡glare¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡talk¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡about¡¡Owen¡¡being¡¡mad£»¡¡and¡¡felt¡¡half¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡him¡£

¡®I¡¡am¡¡going¡¡to¡¡the¡¡office¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Rushton£»¡¡if¡¡Hunter¡¡comes¡¡here£»¡¡you¡¡say¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡that¡¡if¡¡I¡¡find¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡in¡¡that¡¡shop¡¡again¡¡without¡¡a¡¡fire£»¡¡I'll¡¡report¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Society¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Prevention¡¡of¡¡Cruelty¡¡to¡¡Children¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡as¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡comes¡¡out¡¡here¡¡to¡¡get¡¡more¡¡wood£»¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡interfere¡¡with¡¡him¡£'

¡®I¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡interfere¡¡with¡¡the¡¡bloody¡¡kid£»'¡¡grunted¡¡Sawkins¡£¡¡¡¡¡®It¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he's¡¡gorn¡¡orf¡¡'is¡¡bloody¡¡crumpet£»'¡¡he¡¡added¡¡as¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡Owen¡¡walking¡¡rapidly¡¡down¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡¡¡¡®I¡¡can't¡¡understand¡¡why¡¡people¡¡can't¡¡mind¡¡their¡¡own¡¡bloody¡¡business£º¡¡anyone¡¡would¡¡think¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡'IM¡£'

That¡¡was¡¡just¡¡how¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡presented¡¡itself¡¡to¡¡Owen¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡idea¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡his¡¡own¡¡child¡¡who¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡treated¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way¡¡possessed¡¡and¡¡infuriated¡¡him¡¡as¡¡he¡¡strode¡¡savagely¡¡along¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡vicinity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Slave¡¡Market¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Grand¡¡Parade¡¡he¡¡passed¡¡¡­¡¡without¡¡seeing¡¡them¡¡¡­¡¡several¡¡groups¡¡of¡¡unemployed¡¡artisans¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡knew¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡offended¡¡and¡¡remarked¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡getting¡¡stuck¡¡up£»¡¡but¡¡others£»¡¡observing¡¡how¡¡strange¡¡he¡¡looked£»¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡old¡¡prophecy¡¡that¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡days¡¡Owen¡¡would¡¡go¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mind¡£

As¡¡he¡¡drew¡¡near¡¡to¡¡his¡¡destination¡¡large¡¡flakes¡¡of¡¡snow¡¡began¡¡to¡¡fall¡£¡¡He¡¡walked¡¡so¡¡rapidly¡¡and¡¡was¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡fury¡¡that¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡shop¡¡he¡¡was¡¡scarcely¡¡able¡¡to¡¡speak¡£

¡®Is¡¡¡­¡¡Hunter¡¡¡­¡¡or¡¡Rushton¡¡here£¿'¡¡he¡¡demanded¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shopman¡£

¡®Hunter¡¡isn't£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡guv'nor¡¡is¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡was¡¡it¡¡you¡¡wanted£¿'

¡®He'll¡¡soon¡¡¡­¡¡know¡¡¡­¡¡that£»'¡¡panted¡¡Owen¡¡as¡¡he¡¡strode¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡office¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡troubling¡¡to¡¡knock£»¡¡flung¡¡it¡¡violently¡¡open¡¡and¡¡entered¡£

The¡¡atmosphere¡¡of¡¡this¡¡place¡¡was¡¡very¡¡different¡¡from¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡damp¡¡cellar¡¡where¡¡Bert¡¡was¡¡working¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡grate¡¡fitted¡¡with¡¡asbestos¡¡blocks¡¡and¡¡lit¡¡with¡¡gas¡¡communicated¡¡a¡¡genial¡¡warmth¡¡to¡¡the¡¡air¡£

Rushton¡¡was¡¡standing¡¡leaning¡¡over¡¡Miss¡¡Wade's¡¡chair¡¡with¡¡his¡¡left¡¡arm¡¡round¡¡her¡¡neck¡£¡¡¡¡Owen¡¡recollected¡¡afterwards¡¡that¡¡her¡¡dress¡¡was¡¡disarranged¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡retired¡¡hastily¡¡to¡¡the¡¡far¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡¡as¡¡Rushton¡¡jumped¡¡away¡¡from¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡stared¡¡in¡¡amazement¡¡and¡¡confusion¡¡at¡¡the¡¡intruder¡¡¡­¡¡he¡¡was¡¡too¡¡astonished¡¡and¡¡embarrassed¡¡to¡¡speak¡£¡¡¡¡Owen¡¡stood¡¡panting¡¡and¡¡quivering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡office¡¡and¡¡pointed¡¡a¡¡trembling¡¡finger¡¡at¡¡his¡¡employer£º

¡®I've¡¡come¡¡¡­¡¡here¡¡¡­¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡¡­¡¡you¡¡¡­¡¡that¡¡¡­¡¡if¡¡I¡¡find¡¡young¡¡¡­¡¡Bert¡¡White¡¡¡­¡¡working¡¡¡­¡¡down¡¡in¡¡that¡¡shop¡¡¡­¡¡without¡¡a¡¡fire¡¡¡­¡¡I'll¡¡have¡¡you¡¡prosecuted¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡place¡¡is¡¡not¡¡good¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡a¡¡stable¡¡¡­¡¡if¡¡you¡¡owned¡¡a¡¡valuable¡¡dog¡¡¡­¡¡you¡¡wouldn't¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡there¡¡¡­¡¡I¡¡give¡¡you¡¡fair¡¡warning¡¡¡­¡¡I¡¡know¡¡¡­¡¡enough¡¡¡­¡¡about¡¡you¡¡¡­¡¡to¡¡put¡¡you¡¡¡­¡¡where¡¡you¡¡deserve¡¡to¡¡be¡¡¡­¡¡if¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡treat¡¡him¡¡better¡¡I'll¡¡have¡¡you¡¡punished¡¡I'll¡¡show¡¡you¡¡up¡£'

Rushton¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡stare¡¡at¡¡him¡¡in¡¡mingled¡¡confusion£»¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡perplexity£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡comprehend¡¡exactly¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡about£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡guiltily¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡so¡¡many¡¡things¡¡which¡¡he¡¡might¡¡reasonably¡¡fear¡¡to¡¡be¡¡shown¡¡up¡¡or¡¡prosecuted¡¡for¡¡if¡¡they¡¡were¡¡known£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡of¡¡being¡¡caught¡¡under¡¡such¡¡circumstances¡¡with¡¡Miss¡¡Wade¡¡helped¡¡to¡¡reduce¡¡him¡¡to¡¡a¡¡condition¡¡approaching¡¡terror¡£

¡®If¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡has¡¡been¡¡there¡¡without¡¡a¡¡fire£»¡¡I¡¡'aven't¡¡known¡¡anything¡¡about¡¡it£»'¡¡he¡¡stammered¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡¡¡¡®Mr¡¡'Unter¡¡has¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡all¡¡those¡¡matters¡£'

¡®You¡¡¡­¡¡yourself¡¡¡­¡¡forbade¡¡him¡¡¡­¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡fire¡¡last¡¡winter¡¡¡­¡¡and¡¡anyhow¡¡¡­¡¡you¡¡know¡¡about¡¡it¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡obtained¡¡money¡¡from¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡under¡¡the¡¡pretence¡¡¡­¡¡that¡¡you¡¡were¡¡going¡¡¡­¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡him¡¡a¡¡trade¡¡¡­¡¡but¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡twelve¡¡months¡¡¡­¡¡you¡¡have¡¡been¡¡using¡¡him¡¡¡­¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡beast¡¡of¡¡burden¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡advise¡¡you¡¡to¡¡see¡¡to¡¡it¡¡¡­¡¡or¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡¡­¡¡find¡¡¡­¡¡means¡¡¡­¡¡to¡¡make¡¡you¡¡¡­¡¡wish¡¡you¡¡had¡¡done¡¡so¡£'

With¡¡this¡¡Owen¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡went¡¡out£»¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡door¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡Rushton¡¡in¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡mind¡¡compounded¡¡of¡¡fear£»¡¡amazement¡¡and¡¡anger¡£

As¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡homewards¡¡through¡¡the¡¡snow¡­storm£»¡¡Owen¡¡began¡¡to¡¡realize¡¡that¡¡the¡¡consequence¡¡of¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done¡¡would¡¡be¡¡that¡¡Rushton¡¡would¡¡not¡¡give¡¡him¡¡any¡¡more¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡he¡¡reflected¡¡on¡¡all¡¡that¡¡this¡¡would¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡those¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡doubted¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡when¡¡he¡¡told¡¡Nora¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡she¡¡said¡¡there¡¡were¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡other¡¡firms¡¡in¡¡the¡¡town¡¡who¡¡would¡¡employ¡¡him¡¡¡­¡¡when¡¡they¡¡had¡¡the¡¡work¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡done¡¡without¡¡Rushton¡¡before¡¡and¡¡could¡¡do¡¡so¡¡again£»¡¡for¡¡her¡¡part¡¡¡­¡¡whatever¡¡the¡¡consequences¡¡might¡¡be¡¡¡­¡¡she¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡acted¡¡as¡¡he¡¡did¡£

¡®We'll¡¡get¡¡through¡¡somehow£»¡¡I¡¡suppose£»'¡¡said¡¡Owen£»¡¡wearily¡£¡¡¡¡¡®There's¡¡not¡¡much¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡a¡¡job¡¡anywhere¡¡else¡¡just¡¡now£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡try¡¡to¡¡get¡¡some¡¡work¡¡on¡¡my¡¡own¡¡account¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡do¡¡some¡¡samples¡¡of¡¡show¡­cards¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡I¡¡did¡¡last¡¡winter¡¡and¡¡try¡¡to¡¡get¡¡orders¡¡from¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shops¡¡¡­¡¡they¡¡usually¡¡want¡¡something¡¡extra¡¡at¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡I'm¡¡afraid¡¡it¡¡is¡¡rather¡¡too¡¡late£º¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡already¡¡have¡¡all¡¡they¡¡want¡£'

¡®I¡¡shouldn't¡¡go¡¡out¡¡again¡¡today¡¡if¡¡I¡¡were¡¡you£»'¡¡said¡¡Nora£»¡¡noticing¡¡how¡¡ill¡¡he¡¡looked¡£¡¡¡¡¡®You¡¡should¡¡stay¡¡at¡¡home¡¡and¡¡read£»¡¡or¡¡write¡¡up¡¡those¡¡minutes¡£'

The¡¡minutes¡¡referred¡¡to¡¡were¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡last¡¡meeting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡local¡¡branch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Painters'¡¡Society£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡Owen¡¡was¡¡the¡¡secretary£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡fall£»¡¡he¡¡occupied¡¡himself¡¡after¡¡dinner¡¡in¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡suggested£»¡¡until¡¡four¡¡o'clock£»¡¡when¡¡Frankie¡¡returned¡¡from¡¡school¡¡bringing¡¡with¡¡him¡¡a¡¡large¡¡snowball£»¡¡and¡¡crying¡¡out¡¡as¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡good¡¡news¡¡that¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡was¡¡still¡¡falling¡¡heavily£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡believed¡¡it¡¡was¡¡freezing£¡

They¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed¡¡very¡¡early¡¡that¡¡night£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡economize¡¡the¡¡coal£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡only¡¡that£»¡¡but¡¡¡­¡¡because¡¡the¡¡rooms¡¡were¡¡so¡¡near¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡¡­¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡possible¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡place¡¡warm¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡how¡¡much¡¡coal¡¡was¡¡used¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fire¡¡seemed£»¡¡if¡¡anything£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡place¡¡colder£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡caused¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡air¡¡to¡¡pour¡¡in¡¡through¡¡the¡¡joints¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ill¡­fitting¡¡doors¡¡and¡¡windows¡£

Owen¡¡lay¡¡awake¡¡for¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡terror¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future¡¡made¡¡rest¡¡or¡¡sleep¡¡impossible¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡got¡¡up¡¡very¡¡early¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡¡­¡¡long¡¡before¡¡it¡¡was¡¡light¡¡¡­¡¡and¡¡after¡¡lighting¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡set¡¡about¡¡preparing¡¡the¡¡samples¡¡he¡¡had¡¡mentioned¡¡to¡¡Nora£»¡¡but¡¡found¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡possible¡¡to¡¡do¡¡much¡¡in¡¡this¡¡direction¡¡without¡¡buying¡¡more¡¡cardboard£»¡¡for¡¡most¡¡of¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡was¡¡not¡¡in¡¡good¡¡condition¡£

They¡¡had¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡butter¡¡and¡¡tea¡¡for¡¡breakfast¡£¡¡¡¡Frankie¡¡had¡¡his¡¡in¡¡bed¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡away¡¡from¡¡school¡¡until¡¡after¡¡dinner¡¡because¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡was¡¡so¡¡very¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡his¡¡only¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡boots¡¡were¡¡so¡¡saturated¡¡with¡¡moisture¡¡from¡¡having¡¡been¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡day¡£

¡®I¡¡shall¡¡make¡¡a¡¡few¡¡inquiries¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡there's¡¡any¡¡other¡¡work¡¡to¡¡be¡¡had¡¡before¡¡I¡¡buy¡¡the¡¡cardboard£»'¡¡said¡¡Owen£»¡¡¡®although¡¡I'm¡¡afraid¡¡it's¡¡not¡¡much¡¡use¡£'

Just¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡preparing¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out£»¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡bell¡¡rang£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡going¡¡down¡¡to¡¡answer¡¡it¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡Bert¡¡White¡¡coming¡¡upstairs¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡was¡¡carrying¡¡a¡¡flat£»¡¡brown¡­paper¡¡parcel¡¡under¡¡his¡¡arm¡£

¡®A¡¡corfin¡¡plate£»'¡¡he¡¡explained¡¡as¡¡he¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡¡®Wanted¡¡at¡¡once¡¡¡­¡¡Misery¡¡ses¡¡you¡¡can¡¡do¡¡it¡¡at¡¡'ome£»¡¡an'¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡it¡£'

Owen¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other¡¡with¡¡intense¡¡relief¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡dismissed¡¡after¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡too¡¡good¡¡to¡¡be¡¡true¡£

¡®There's¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡paper¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡parcel¡¡with¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party¡¡what's¡¡dead£»'¡¡continued¡¡Bert£»¡¡¡®and¡¡here's¡¡a¡¡little¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡Brunswick¡¡black¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡inscription¡¡with¡£'

¡®Did¡¡he¡¡send¡¡any¡¡other¡¡message£¿'

¡®Yes£º¡¡he¡¡told¡¡me¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡there's¡¡a¡¡job¡¡to¡¡be¡¡started¡¡Monday¡¡morning¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡rooms¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done¡¡out¡¡somewhere¡£¡¡¡¡Got¡¡to¡¡be¡¡finished¡¡by¡¡Thursday£»¡¡and¡¡there's¡¡another¡¡job¡¡'e¡¡wants¡¡you¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this¡¡afternoon¡¡¡­¡¡after¡¡dinner¡¡¡­¡¡so¡¡you've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡yard¡¡at¡¡one¡¡o'clock¡£¡¡¡¡'E¡¡told¡¡me¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡'e¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡a¡¡message¡¡for¡¡you¡¡yesterday¡¡morning£»¡¡but¡¡'e¡¡forgot¡£'

¡®What¡¡did¡¡he¡¡say¡¡to¡¡you¡¡about¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡¡­¡¡anything£¿'

¡®Yes£º¡¡they¡¡both¡¡of¡¡'em¡¡came¡¡about¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡after¡¡you¡¡went¡¡away¡¡¡­¡¡Misery¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Bloke¡¡too¡¡¡­¡¡but¡¡they¡¡didn't¡¡kick¡¡up¡¡a¡¡row¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡arf¡¡frightened£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡'em¡¡both¡¡coming£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡nice¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Bloke¡¡ses¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡that's¡¡right£»¡¡my¡¡boy£»¡¨¡¡'e¡¡ses¡£¡¡¡¨Keep¡¡up¡¡a¡¡good¡¡fire¡£¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡send¡¡you¡¡some¡¡coke£»¡¨¡¡'e¡¡ses¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡they¡¡'ad¡¡a¡¡look¡¡round¡¡and¡¡'e¡¡told¡¡Sawkins¡¡to¡¡put¡¡some¡¡new¡¡panes¡¡of¡¡glass¡¡where¡¡the¡¡winder¡¡was¡¡broken£»¡¡and¡¡¡­¡¡you¡¡know¡¡that¡¡great¡¡big¡¡packing¡­case¡¡what¡¡was¡¡under¡¡the¡¡truck¡¡shed£¿'

¡®Yes¡£'

¡®Well£»¡¡'e¡¡told¡¡Sawkins¡¡to¡¡saw¡¡it¡¡up¡¡and¡¡cover¡¡over¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡paint¡­shop¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡ain't¡¡'arf¡¡all¡¡right¡¡there¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡I've¡¡cleared¡¡out¡¡all¡¡the¡¡muck¡¡from¡¡under¡¡the¡¡benches¡¡and¡¡we've¡¡got¡¡two¡¡sacks¡¡of¡¡coke¡¡sent¡¡from¡¡the¡¡gas¡­works£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Bloke¡¡told¡¡me¡¡when¡¡that's¡¡all¡¡used¡¡up¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡get¡¡a¡¡order¡¡orf¡¡Miss¡¡Wade¡¡for¡¡another¡¡lot¡£'

At¡¡one¡¡o'clock¡¡Owen¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡yard£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡Misery£»¡¡who¡¡instructed¡¡him¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡front¡¡shop¡¡and¡¡paint¡¡some¡¡numbers¡¡on¡¡the¡¡racks¡¡where¡¡the¡¡wallpapers¡¡were¡¡stored¡£¡¡¡¡Whilst¡¡he¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡this¡¡work¡¡Rushton¡¡came¡¡in¡¡and¡¡greeted¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡very¡¡friendly¡¡way¡£

¡®I'm¡¡very¡¡glad¡¡you¡¡let¡¡me¡¡know¡¡about¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡working¡¡in¡¡that¡¡paint¡­shop£»'¡¡he¡¡observed¡¡after¡¡a¡¡few¡¡prel

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