the ragged trousered philanthropists-第125章

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with　one　of　their　fingers。　　For　one　is　your　master；　even　Christ；　and　ye　are　all　brethren。'　　But　nearly　all　these　alleged　followers　of　the　humble　Workman　of　Nazareth　claimed　to　be　other　people's　masters　or　mistresses。　　And　as　for　being　all　brethren；　whilst　most　of　these　were　arrayed　in　broadcloth　and　fine　linen　and　fared　sumptuously　every　day；　they　knew　that　all　around　them　thousands　of　those　they　hypocritically　called　their　‘brethren'；　men；　women　and　little　children；　were　slowly　perishing　of　hunger　and　cold；　and　we　have　already　seen　how　much　brotherhood　existed　between　Sweater　and　Rushton　and　the　miserable；　half…starved　wretches　in　their　employment。

Whenever　they　were　asked　why　they　did　not　practise　the　things　Jesus　preached；　they　replied　that　it　is　impossible　to　do　so！　　They　did　not　seem　to　realize　that　when　they　said　this　they　were　saying；　in　effect；　that　Jesus　taught　an　impracticable　religion；　and　they　appeared　to　forget　that　Jesus　said；　‘Wherefore　call　ye　me　Lord；　Lord；　when　ye　do　not　the　things　I　say？。。　。'　‘Whosoever　heareth　these　sayings　of　mine　and　doeth　them　not；　shall　be　likened　to　a　foolish　man　who　built　his　house　upon　the　sand。'

But　although　none　of　these　self…styled　‘Followers'　of　Christ；　ever　did　the　things　that　Jesus　said；　they　talked　a　great　deal　about　them；　and　sang　hymns；　and　for　a　pretence　made　long　prayers；　and　came　out　here　to　exhort　those　who　were　still　in　darkness　to　forsake　their　evil　ways。　And　they　procured　this　lantern　and　wrote　a　text　upon　it：　‘Be　not　deceived；　God　is　not　mocked。'

They　stigmatized　as　‘infidels'　all　those　who　differed　from　them；　forgetting　that　the　only　real　infidels　are　those　who　are　systematically　false　and　unfaithful　to　the　Master　they　pretend　to　love　and　serve。

Grinder；　having　a　slight　cold；　had　not　spoken　this　evening；　but　several　other　infidels；　including　Sweater；　Didlum；　Bosher；　and　Starr；　had　addressed　the　meeting；　making　a　special　appeal　to　the　working　people；　of　whom　the　majority　of　the　crowd　was　composed；　to　give　up　all　the　vain　pleasures　of　the　world　in　which　they　at　present　indulged；　and；　as　Rushton　had　eloquently　put　it　at　the　close　of　his　remarks：

　　　　　　　　‘Come　and　jine　this　'Oly　band　and　hon　to　glory　go！'

As　Didlum　finished　reading　out　the　words；　the　lady　at　the　harmonium　struck　up　the　tune　of　the　hymns；　and　the　disciples　all　joined　in　the　singing：

　　　　　　　　‘Oh；　come　and　join　this　'oly　band　and　hon　to　glory　go。'

During　the　singing　certain　of　the　disciples　went　about　amongst　the　crowd　distributing　tracts。　　Presently　one　of　them　offered　one　to　Barrington　and　as　the　latter　looked　at　the　man　he　saw　that　it　was　Slyme；　who　also　recognized　him　at　the　same　instant　and　greeted　him　by　name。　　Barrington　made　no　reply　except　to　decline　the　tract：

‘I　don't　want　that　…　from　you；'　he　said　contemptuously。

Slyme　turned　red。　　‘Oh；　I　know　what　you're　thinking　of；'　he　said　after　a　pause　and　speaking　in　an　injured　tone；　‘but　you　shouldn't　judge　anyone　too　hard。　　It　wasn't　only　my　fault；　and　you　don't　know　'ow　much　I've　suffered　for　it。　　If　it　'adn't　been　for　the　Lord；　I　believe　I　should　'ave　drownded　myself。'

Barrington　made　no　answer　and　Slyme　slunk　off；　and　when　the　hymn　was　finished　Brother　Sweater　stood　forth　and　gave　all　those　present　a　hearty　invitation　to　attend　the　services　to　be　held　during　the　ensuing　week　at　the　Chapel　of　the　Shining　Light。　　He　invited　them　there　specially；　of　course；　because　it　was　the　place　with　which　he　was　himself　connected；　but　he　entreated　and　begged　of　them　even　if　they　would　not　come　there　to　go　Somewhere；　there　were　plenty　of　other　places　of　worship　in　the　town；　in　fact；　there　was　one　at　the　corner　of　nearly　every　street。　　Those　who　did　not　fancy　the　services　at　the　Shining　Light　could　go　to　the　Church　of　the　Whited　Sepulchre；　but　he　really　did　hope　that　all　those　dear　people　whom　he　saw　standing　round　would　go　Somewhere。

A　short　prayer　from　Bosher　closed　the　meeting；　and　now　the　reason　for　the　presence　of　the　two　poverty…stricken…looking　shabbily　dressed　disciples　was　made　manifest；　for　while　the　better　dressed　and　therefore　more　respectable　Brothers　were　shaking　hands　with　and　grinning　at　each　other　or　hovering　round　the　two　clergymen　and　Mr　Sweater；　these　two　poor　wretches　carried　away　the　harmonium　and　the　lantern；　together　with　the　hymn　books　and　what　remained　of　the　tracts。　As　Barrington　hurried　off　to　catch　the　train　one　of　the　‘Followers'　gave　him　a　card　which　he　read　by　the　light　of　a　street　lamp　…

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Come　and　join　the　Brotherhood　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　at　the　Shining　Light　Chapel　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　PSA　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Every　Sunday　at　3　o'clock。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Let　Brotherly　Love　Continue。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　‘Oh　come　and　join　this　Holy　Band　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　and　on　to　Glory　go。'

Barrington　thought　he　would；　rather　go　to　hell　…　if　there　were　such　a　place　…　with　some　decent　people；　than　share　‘glory'　with　a　crew　like　this。



Nora　sat　sewing　by　the　fireside　in　the　front　room；　with　the　baby　asleep　in　her　lap。　　Owen　was　reclining　in　the　deck…chair　opposite。　They　had　both　been　rather　silent　and　thoughtful　since　Barrington's　departure。　　It　was　mainly　by　their　efforts　that　the　reconciliation　between　Easton　and　Ruth　had　been　effected　and　they　had　been　so　desirous　of　accomplishing　that　result　that　they　had　not　given　much　thought　to　their　own　position。

‘I　feel　that　I　could　not　bear　to　part　with　her　for　anything　now；'　said　Nora　at　last　breaking　the　long　silence；　‘and　Frankie　is　so　fond　of　her　too。　　But　all　the　same　I　can't　feel　happy　about　it　when　I　think　how　ill　you　are。'

‘Oh；　I　shall　be　all　right　when　the　weather　gets　a　little　warmer；'　said　Owen；　affecting　a　cheerfulness　he　did　not　feel。　　‘We　have　always　pulled　through　somehow　or　other；　the　poor　little　thing　is　not　going　to　make　much　difference；　and　she'll　be　as　well　off　with　us　as　she　would　have　been　if　Ruth　had　not　gone　back。'

As　he　spoke　he　leaned　over　and　touched　the　hand　of　the　sleeping　child　and　the　little　fingers　closed　round　one　of　his　with　a　clutch　that　sent　a　thrill　all　through　him。　　As　he　looked　at　this　little　helpless；　dependent　creature；　he　realized　with　a　kind　of　thankfulness　that　he　would　never　have　the　heart　to　carry　out　the　dreadful　project　he　had　sometimes　entertained　in　hours　of　despondency。

‘We've　always　got　through　somehow　or　other；'　he　repeated；　‘and　we'll　do　so　still。'

Presently　they　heard　Frankie's　footsteps　ascending　the　stairs　and　a　moment　afterwards　the　boy　entered　the　room。

‘We　have　to　look　out　of　the　window　and　wave　to　Mr　Barrington　when　his　train　goes　over　the　bridge；'　he　cried　breathlessly。　　‘And　he's　sent　this　letter。　　Open　the　window；　quick；　Dad；　or　it　may　be　too　late。'

‘There's　plenty　of　time　yet；'　replied　Owen；　smiling　at　the　boy's　impetuosity。　　‘Nearly　twenty　minutes。　　We　don't　want　the　window　open　all　that　time。　　It's　only　a　quarter　to　eight　by　our　clock　now；　and　that's　five　minutes　fast。'

However；　so　as　to　make　quite　certain　that　the　train　should　not　run　past　unnoticed；　Frankie　pulled　up　the　blind　and；　rubbing　the　steam　off　the　glass；　took　up　his　station　at　the　window　to　watch　for　its　coming；　while　Owen　opened　the　letter：

‘Dear　Owen；

‘Enclosed　you　will　find　two　bank…notes；　one　for　ten　pounds　and　the　other　for　five。　　The　first　I　beg　you　will　accept　from　me　for　yourself　in　the　same　spirit　that　I　offer　it；　and　as　I　would　accept　it　from　you　if　our　positions　were　reversed。　　If　I　were　in　need；　I　know　that　you　would　willingly　share　with　me　whatever　you　had　and　I　could　not　hurt　you　by　refusing。　　The　other　note　I　want　you　to　change　tomorrow　morning。　　Give　three　pounds　of　it　to　Mrs　Linden　and　the　remainder　to　Bert　White's　mother。

‘Wishing　you　all　a　happy　Xmas　and　hoping　to　find　you　well　and　eager　for　the　fray　when　I　come　back　in　the　spring；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　‘Yours　for　the　cause；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　‘George　Barrington。'

Owen　read　it　over　two　or　three　times　before　he　could　properly　understand　it　and　then；　without　a　word　of　comment　…　for　he　could　not　have　spoken　at　that　moment　to　save　his　life　…　he　passed　it　to　Nora；　who　felt；　as　she　read　it　in　her　turn；　as　if　a　great　burden　had　been　lifted　from　her　heart。　All　the　undefined　terror　of　the　future　faded　away　as　she　thought　of　all　this　small　piece　of　paper　made　possible。

Meanwhile；　Frankie；　at　the　window；　was　straining　his　eyes　in　the　direction　of　the　station。

‘Don't　you　think　we'd　better　have　the　window　open　now；　Dad？'　he　said　at　last　as　the　clock　struck　eight。　　‘The　steam　keeps　coming　on　the　glass　as　fast　as　I　wipe　it　off　and　I　can't　see　out　properly。　　I'm　sure　it's　nearly　time　now；　p'raps　our　clock　isn't　as　fast　as　you　think　it　is。'

‘All　right；　we'll　have　it　open　now；　so　as　to　be　on　the　safe　side；'　said　Owen　as　he　stood　up　and　raised　the　sash；　and　Nora；　having　wrapped　the　child　up　in　a　shawl；　joined　them　at　the　window。

‘It　can't　be　much　longer　now；　you　know；'　said　Frankie。　　‘The　line's　clear。　　They　turned　the　red　light　off　the　signal　just　before　you　opened　the　window。'

In　a　very　few　minutes　they　heard　the　whistle　of　the　locomotive　as　it　drew　out　of　the　station；　then；　an　instant　before　the　engine　itself　came　into　sight　round　the　bend；　the　brightly　polished　rails　were　illuminated；　shining　like　burnished　gold　in　the　glare　of　its　headlight；　a　few　seconds　afterwards　the　train　emerged　into　view；　gathering　speed　as　it　came　along　the　short　stretch　of　straight　way；　and　a　moment　later　it　thundered　across　the　bridge。　　It　was　too　far　away　to　recognize　his　face；　but　they　saw　someone　looking　out　of　a　carriage　window　waving　a　handkerchief；　and　they　knew　it　was　Barrington　as　they　waved　theirs　in　return。　　Soon　there　remained　nothing　visible　of　the　train　except　the　lights　at　the　rear　of　the　guard's　van；　and　presently　even　those　vanished　into　the　surrounding　darkness。

The　lofty　window　at　which　they　were　standing　overlooked　several　of　the　adjacent　streets　and　a　great　part　of　the　town。　On　the　other　side　of　the　road　were　several　empty　houses；　bristling　with　different　house　agents'　advertisement　boards　and　bills。　　About　twenty　yards　away；　the　shop　formerly　tenanted　by　Mr　Smallman；　the　grocer；　who　had　become　bankrupt　two　or　three　months　previously；　was　also　plastered　with　similar　decorations。　　A　little　further　on；　at　the　opposite　corner；　were　the　premises　of　the　Monopole　Provision　Stores；　where　brilliant　lights　were　just　being　extinguished；　for　they；　like　most　of　the　other　shops；　were　closing　their　premises　for　the　night；　and　the　streets　took　on　a　more　cheerless　air　as　one　after　another　their　lights　disappeared。

It　had　been　a　fine　day；　and　during　the　earlier　part　of　the　evening　the　moon；　nearly　at　the　full；　had　been　shining　in　a　clear　and　starry　sky；　but　a　strong　north…east　wind　had　sprung　up　within　the　last　hour；　the　weather　had　become　bitterly　cold　and　the　stars　were　rapidly　being　concealed　from　view　by　the　dense　banks　of　clouds　that　were　slowly　accumulating　overhead。

As　they　remained　at　the　window　looking　out　over　this　scene　for　a　few　minutes　after　the　train　had　passed　out　of　sight；　it　seemed　to　Owen　that　the　gathering　darkness　was　as　a　curtain　that　concealed　from　view　the　Infamy　existing　beyond。　　In　every　country；　myriads　of　armed　men　waiting　for　their　masters　to　give　them　the　signal