the ragged trousered philanthropists-第121章

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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：

‘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：　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：

‘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：　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：　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：　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