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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¿£¡
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¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'To¡¡dear¡¡mother£»¡¡from¡¡her¡¡loving¡¡son£»¡¡Tom¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Wishing¡¡her¡¡many¡¡happy¡¡birthdays¡£'

¡®But¡¡he¡¡never¡¡had¡¡another¡¡birthday¡¡himself£»¡¡because¡¡just¡¡five¡¡months¡¡afterwards¡¡he¡¡were¡¡sent¡¡out¡¡to¡¡Africa£»¡¡and¡¡he'd¡¡only¡¡been¡¡there¡¡five¡¡weeks¡¡when¡¡he¡¡died¡£¡¡¡¡Five¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡come¡¡the¡¡fifteenth¡¡of¡¡next¡¡month¡£'

Owen£»¡¡inwardly¡¡regretting¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡unintentionally¡¡broached¡¡so¡¡painful¡¡a¡¡subject£»¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡some¡¡suitable¡¡reply£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡to¡¡content¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡murmuring¡¡some¡¡words¡¡of¡¡admiration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡work¡£

As¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡her¡¡good¡¡night£»¡¡the¡¡old¡¡woman£»¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡observing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡appeared¡¡very¡¡frail¡¡and¡¡ill£º¡¡his¡¡face¡¡was¡¡very¡¡thin¡¡and¡¡pale£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡unnaturally¡¡bright¡£

Possibly¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡in¡¡His¡¡infinite¡¡loving¡¡kindness¡¡and¡¡mercy¡¡was¡¡chastening¡¡this¡¡unhappy¡¡castaway¡¡in¡¡order¡¡that¡¡He¡¡might¡¡bring¡¡him¡¡to¡¡Himself¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡all£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡altogether¡¡bad£º¡¡it¡¡was¡¡certainly¡¡very¡¡thoughtful¡¡of¡¡him¡¡to¡¡come¡¡all¡¡this¡¡way¡¡to¡¡let¡¡John¡¡know¡¡about¡¡that¡¡job¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡observed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡overcoat£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡storm¡¡was¡¡still¡¡raging¡¡fiercely¡¡outside£»¡¡furious¡¡gusts¡¡of¡¡wind¡¡frequently¡¡striking¡¡the¡¡house¡¡and¡¡shaking¡¡it¡¡to¡¡its¡¡very¡¡foundations¡£

The¡¡natural¡¡kindliness¡¡of¡¡her¡¡character¡¡asserted¡¡itself£»¡¡her¡¡better¡¡feelings¡¡were¡¡aroused£»¡¡triumphing¡¡momentarily¡¡over¡¡the¡¡bigotry¡¡of¡¡her¡¡religious¡¡opinions¡£

¡®Why£»¡¡you¡¡ain't¡¡got¡¡no¡¡overcoat£¡'¡¡she¡¡exclaimed¡£¡¡¡¡¡®You'll¡¡be¡¡soaked¡¡goin'¡¡'ome¡¡in¡¡this¡¡rain¡£'¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡turning¡¡to¡¡her¡¡husband£»¡¡she¡¡continued£º¡¡¡®There's¡¡that¡¡old¡¡one¡¡of¡¡yours£»¡¡you¡¡might¡¡lend¡¡him¡¡that£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡better¡¡than¡¡nothing¡£'

But¡¡Owen¡¡would¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡of¡¡this£º¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡became¡¡very¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clammy¡¡feel¡¡of¡¡his¡¡saturated¡¡clothing£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡get¡¡much¡¡wetter¡¡than¡¡he¡¡already¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡Linden¡¡accompanied¡¡him¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡Owen¡¡once¡¡more¡¡set¡¡out¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡homeward¡¡through¡¡the¡¡storm¡¡that¡¡howled¡¡around¡¡like¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡beast¡¡hungry¡¡for¡¡its¡¡prey¡£



Chapter¡¡6

It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡My¡¡Crime


Owen¡¡and¡¡his¡¡family¡¡occupied¡¡the¡¡top¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡a¡¡house¡¡that¡¡had¡¡once¡¡been¡¡a¡¡large¡¡private¡¡dwelling¡¡but¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡transformed¡¡into¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡flats¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡situated¡¡in¡¡Lord¡¡Street£»¡¡almost¡¡in¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡£

At¡¡one¡¡time¡¡this¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡most¡¡aristocratic¡¡locality£»¡¡but¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡former¡¡residents¡¡had¡¡migrated¡¡to¡¡the¡¡newer¡¡suburb¡¡at¡¡the¡¡west¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡£¡¡¡¡Notwithstanding¡¡this¡¡fact£»¡¡Lord¡¡Street¡¡was¡¡still¡¡a¡¡most¡¡respectable¡¡neighbourhood£»¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡generally¡¡being¡¡of¡¡a¡¡very¡¡superior¡¡type£º¡¡shop¡­walkers£»¡¡shop¡¡assistants£»¡¡barber's¡¡clerks£»¡¡boarding¡¡house¡¡keepers£»¡¡a¡¡coal¡¡merchant£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡two¡¡retired¡¡jerry¡­builders¡£

There¡¡were¡¡four¡¡other¡¡flats¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡in¡¡which¡¡Owen¡¡lived¡£¡¡¡¡No¡£¡¡1¡¡£¨the¡¡basement£©¡¡was¡¡occupied¡¡by¡¡an¡¡estate¡¡agent's¡¡clerk¡£¡¡¡¡No¡£¡¡2¡¡¡­¡¡on¡¡a¡¡level¡¡with¡¡the¡¡street¡¡¡­¡¡was¡¡the¡¡habitat¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family¡¡of¡¡Mr¡¡Trafaim£»¡¡a¡¡cadaverous¡­looking¡¡gentleman¡¡who¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡top¡¡hat£»¡¡boasted¡¡of¡¡his¡¡French¡¡descent£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡a¡¡shop¡­walker¡¡at¡¡Sweater's¡¡Emporium¡£¡¡¡¡No¡£¡¡3¡¡was¡¡tenanted¡¡by¡¡an¡¡insurance¡¡agent£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡No¡£¡¡4¡¡dwelt¡¡a¡¡tallyman's¡¡traveller¡£

Lord¡¡Street¡¡¡­¡¡like¡¡most¡¡other¡¡similar¡¡neighbourhoods¡¡¡­¡¡supplied¡¡a¡¡striking¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡those¡¡futile¡¡theorists¡¡who¡¡prate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡equality¡¡of¡¡mankind£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡instinctively¡¡formed¡¡themselves¡¡into¡¡groups£»¡¡the¡¡more¡¡superior¡¡types¡¡drawing¡¡together£»¡¡separating¡¡themselves¡¡from¡¡the¡¡inferior£»¡¡and¡¡rising¡¡naturally¡¡to¡¡the¡¡top£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡others¡¡gathered¡¡themselves¡¡into¡¡distinct¡¡classes£»¡¡grading¡¡downwards£»¡¡or¡¡else¡¡isolated¡¡themselves¡¡altogether£»¡¡being¡¡refused¡¡admission¡¡to¡¡the¡¡circles¡¡they¡¡desired¡¡to¡¡enter£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡their¡¡turn¡¡refusing¡¡to¡¡associate¡¡with¡¡their¡¡inferiors¡£

The¡¡most¡¡exclusive¡¡set¡¡consisted¡¡of¡¡the¡¡families¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coal¡¡merchant£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡retired¡¡jerry¡­builders¡¡and¡¡Mr¡¡Trafaim£»¡¡whose¡¡superiority¡¡was¡¡demonstrated¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that£»¡¡to¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡his¡¡French¡¡extraction£»¡¡he¡¡wore¡¡¡­¡¡in¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡the¡¡top¡¡hat¡¡aforesaid¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡frock¡¡coat¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡lavender¡¡trousers¡¡every¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡coal¡¡merchant¡¡and¡¡the¡¡jerry¡¡builders¡¡also¡¡wore¡¡top¡¡hats£»¡¡lavender¡¡trousers¡¡and¡¡frock¡¡coats£»¡¡but¡¡only¡¡on¡¡Sundays¡¡and¡¡other¡¡special¡¡occasions¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡estate¡¡agent's¡¡clerk¡¡and¡¡the¡¡insurance¡¡agent£»¡¡though¡¡excluded¡¡from¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡circle£»¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡another¡¡select¡¡coterie¡¡from¡¡which¡¡they¡¡excluded¡¡in¡¡their¡¡turn¡¡all¡¡persons¡¡of¡¡inferior¡¡rank£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡shop¡¡assistants¡¡or¡¡barbers¡£

The¡¡only¡¡individual¡¡who¡¡was¡¡received¡¡with¡¡equal¡¡cordiality¡¡by¡¡all¡¡ranks£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡tallyman's¡¡traveller¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡whatever¡¡differences¡¡existed¡¡amongst¡¡them¡¡regarding¡¡each¡¡other's¡¡social¡¡standing¡¡they¡¡were¡¡unanimous¡¡on¡¡one¡¡point¡¡at¡¡least£º¡¡they¡¡were¡¡indignant¡¡at¡¡Owen's¡¡presumption¡¡in¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡live¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡refined¡¡locality¡£

This¡¡low¡¡fellow£»¡¡this¡¡common¡¡workman£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡paint¡­bespattered¡¡clothing£»¡¡his¡¡broken¡¡boots£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡generally¡¡shabby¡¡appearance£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡disgrace¡¡to¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡for¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡she¡¡was¡¡not¡¡much¡¡better£»¡¡because¡¡although¡¡whenever¡¡she¡¡came¡¡out¡¡she¡¡was¡¡always¡¡neatly¡¡dressed£»¡¡yet¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡neighbours¡¡knew¡¡perfectly¡¡well¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡wearing¡¡the¡¡same¡¡white¡¡straw¡¡hat¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡fact£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡tolerable¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family¡¡was¡¡the¡¡boy£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡admit¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡always¡¡very¡¡well¡¡dressed£»¡¡so¡¡well¡¡indeed¡¡as¡¡to¡¡occasion¡¡some¡¡surprise£»¡¡until¡¡they¡¡found¡¡out¡¡that¡¡all¡¡the¡¡boy's¡¡clothes¡¡were¡¡home¡­made¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡their¡¡surprise¡¡was¡¡changed¡¡into¡¡a¡¡somewhat¡¡grudging¡¡admiration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡skill¡¡displayed£»¡¡mingled¡¡with¡¡contempt¡¡for¡¡the¡¡poverty¡¡which¡¡made¡¡its¡¡exercise¡¡necessary¡£

The¡¡indignation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡neighbours¡¡was¡¡increased¡¡when¡¡it¡¡became¡¡known¡¡that¡¡Owen¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡were¡¡not¡¡Christians£º¡¡then¡¡indeed¡¡everyone¡¡agreed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡landlord¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ashamed¡¡of¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡letting¡¡the¡¡top¡¡flat¡¡to¡¡such¡¡people¡£

But¡¡although¡¡the¡¡hearts¡¡of¡¡these¡¡disciples¡¡of¡¡the¡¡meek¡¡and¡¡lowly¡¡Jewish¡¡carpenter¡¡were¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡uncharitableness£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡powerless¡¡to¡¡do¡¡much¡¡harm¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡landlord¡¡regarded¡¡their¡¡opinion¡¡with¡¡indifference¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡he¡¡cared¡¡about¡¡was¡¡the¡¡money£º¡¡although¡¡he¡¡also¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sincere¡¡Christian£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡hesitated¡¡to¡¡let¡¡the¡¡top¡¡flat¡¡to¡¡Satan¡¡himself£»¡¡provided¡¡he¡¡was¡¡certain¡¡of¡¡receiving¡¡the¡¡rent¡¡regularly¡£

The¡¡only¡¡one¡¡upon¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡Christians¡¡were¡¡able¡¡to¡¡inflict¡¡any¡¡suffering¡¡was¡¡the¡¡child¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡first¡¡when¡¡he¡¡used¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡street¡¡to¡¡play£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡children£»¡¡acting¡¡on¡¡their¡¡parents'¡¡instructions£»¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡associate¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡or¡¡taunted¡¡him¡¡with¡¡his¡¡parents'¡¡poverty¡£¡¡¡¡Occasionally¡¡he¡¡came¡¡home¡¡heartbroken¡¡and¡¡in¡¡tears¡¡because¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡excluded¡¡from¡¡some¡¡game¡£

At¡¡first£»¡¡sometimes¡¡the¡¡mothers¡¡of¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡better¡­class¡¡children¡¡used¡¡to¡¡come¡¡out¡¡with¡¡a¡¡comical¡¡assumption¡¡of¡¡superiority¡¡and¡¡dignity¡¡and¡¡compel¡¡their¡¡children¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡off¡¡playing¡¡with¡¡Frankie¡¡and¡¡some¡¡other¡¡poorly¡¡dressed¡¡children¡¡who¡¡used¡¡to¡¡play¡¡in¡¡that¡¡street¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡females¡¡were¡¡usually¡¡overdressed¡¡and¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡jewellery¡£¡¡¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡fancied¡¡they¡¡were¡¡ladies£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡only¡¡had¡¡the¡¡sense¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡their¡¡mouths¡¡shut£»¡¡other¡¡people¡¡might¡¡possibly¡¡have¡¡shared¡¡the¡¡same¡¡delusion¡£

But¡¡this¡¡was¡¡now¡¡a¡¡rare¡¡occurrence£»¡¡because¡¡the¡¡parents¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡children¡¡found¡¡it¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡considerable¡¡difficulty¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡their¡¡youngsters¡¡from¡¡associating¡¡with¡¡those¡¡of¡¡inferior¡¡rank£»¡¡for¡¡when¡¡left¡¡to¡¡themselves¡¡the¡¡children¡¡disregarded¡¡all¡¡such¡¡distinctions¡£¡¡Frequently¡¡in¡¡that¡¡street¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡appalling¡¡spectacle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ten¡­year¡­old¡¡son¡¡of¡¡the¡¡refined¡¡and¡¡fashionable¡¡Trafaim¡¡dragging¡¡along¡¡a¡¡cart¡¡constructed¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sugar¡¡box¡¡and¡¡an¡¡old¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡perambulator¡¡wheels¡¡with¡¡no¡¡tyres£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡reposed¡¡the¡¡plebeian¡¡Frankie¡¡Owen£»¡¡armed¡¡with¡¡a¡¡whip£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dowdy¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡a¡¡barber's¡¡clerk£º¡¡while¡¡the¡¡nine¡­year¡­old¡¡heir¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coal¡¡merchant¡¡rushed¡¡up¡¡behind¡¡¡£¡£¡£

Owen's¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡little¡¡son¡¡were¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room¡£¡¡This¡¡room¡¡was¡¡about¡¡twelve¡¡feet¡¡square¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ceiling¡¡¡­¡¡which¡¡was¡¡low¡¡and¡¡irregularly¡¡shaped£»¡¡showing¡¡in¡¡places¡¡the¡¡formation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡¡­¡¡had¡¡been¡¡decorated¡¡by¡¡Owen¡¡with¡¡painted¡¡ornaments¡£

There¡¡were¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡chairs£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡oblong¡¡table£»¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡a¡¡clean¡¡white¡¡tablecloth£»¡¡set¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡tea¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡recess¡¡at¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡fireplace¡¡¡­¡¡an¡¡ordinary¡¡open¡¡grate¡¡¡­¡¡were¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡shelves¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡a¡¡miscellaneous¡¡collection¡¡of¡¡books£»¡¡most¡¡of¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡bought¡¡second¡­hand¡£

There¡¡were¡¡also¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡new¡¡books£»¡¡mostly¡¡cheap¡¡editions¡¡in¡¡paper¡¡covers¡£

Over¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡a¡¡chair¡¡at¡¡one¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡was¡¡hanging¡¡an¡¡old¡¡suit¡¡of¡¡Owen's£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡underclothing£»¡¡which¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡had¡¡placed¡¡there¡¡to¡¡air£»¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡wet¡¡through¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡he¡¡arrived¡¡home¡¡¡£¡£¡£

The¡¡woman¡¡was¡¡half¡­sitting£»¡¡half¡¡lying£»¡¡on¡¡a¡¡couch¡¡by¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡very¡¡thin£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡pale¡¡face¡¡bore¡¡the¡¡traces¡¡of¡¡much¡¡physical¡¡and¡¡mental¡¡suffering¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡sewing£»¡¡a¡¡task¡¡which¡¡her¡¡reclining¡¡position¡¡rendered¡¡somewhat¡¡difficult¡£¡¡¡¡Although¡¡she¡¡was¡¡really¡¡only¡¡twenty¡­eight¡¡years¡¡of¡¡age£»¡¡she¡¡appeared¡¡older¡£

The¡¡boy£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hearthrug¡¡playing¡¡with¡¡some¡¡toys£»¡¡bore¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡resemblance¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mother¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡also£»¡¡appeared¡¡very¡¡fragile¡¡and¡¡in¡¡his¡¡childish¡¡face¡¡was¡¡reproduced¡¡much¡¡of¡¡the¡¡delicate¡¡prettiness¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡once¡¡possessed¡£¡¡His¡¡feminine¡¡appearance¡¡was¡¡increased¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡his¡¡yellow¡¡hair¡¡hung¡¡in¡¡long¡¡curls¡¡on¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡pride¡¡with¡¡which¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡regarded¡¡this¡¡long¡¡hair¡¡was¡¡by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡shared¡¡by¡¡Frankie¡¡himself£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡always¡¡entreating¡¡her¡¡to¡¡cut¡¡it¡¡off¡£

Presently¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡stood¡¡up¡¡and¡¡walking¡¡gravely¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡scanning¡¡the¡¡pavement¡¡for¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see£º¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡doing¡¡this¡¡at¡¡intervals¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡hour¡£

¡®I¡¡wonder¡¡wherever¡¡he's¡¡got¡¡to£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fire¡£

¡®I'm¡¡sure¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know£»'¡¡returned¡¡his¡¡mother¡£¡¡¡¡¡®Perhaps¡¡he's¡¡had¡¡to¡¡work¡¡overtime¡£'

¡®You¡¡know£»¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡thinking¡¡lately£»'¡¡observed¡¡Frankie£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡pause£»¡¡¡®that¡¡it's¡¡a¡¡great¡¡mistake¡¡for¡¡Dad¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out¡¡working¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡that's¡¡the¡¡very¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡we're¡¡so¡¡poor¡£'

¡®Nearly¡¡everyone¡¡who¡¡works¡¡is¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡poor£»¡¡dear£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡Dad¡¡didn't¡¡go¡¡out¡¡to¡¡work¡¡we'd¡¡be¡¡even¡¡poorer¡¡than¡¡we¡¡are¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡should¡¡have¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡eat¡£'

¡®But¡¡Dad¡¡says¡¡that¡¡the¡¡people¡¡who¡¡do¡¡nothing¡¡get¡¡lots¡¡of¡¡everything¡£'

¡®Yes£»¡¡and¡¡it's¡¡quite¡¡true¡¡that¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡who¡¡never¡¡do¡¡any¡¡work¡¡get¡¡lots¡¡of¡¡everything£»¡¡but¡¡where¡¡do¡¡they¡¡get¡¡it¡¡from£¿¡¡¡¡And¡¡how¡¡do¡¡they¡¡get¡¡it£¿'

¡®I'm¡¡sure¡¡i¡¡don't¡¡know£»'¡¡replied¡¡Frankie£»¡¡shaking¡¡his¡¡head¡¡in¡¡a¡¡puzzled¡¡fashion¡£

¡®Supposing¡¡Dad¡¡didn't¡¡go¡¡to¡¡work£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡work¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡ill¡¡and¡¡not¡¡able¡¡to¡¡do¡¡any¡¡work£»¡¡then¡¡we'd¡¡have¡¡no¡¡money¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡anything¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡should¡¡we¡¡get¡¡on¡¡then£¿'

¡®I'm¡¡sure¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know£»'¡¡repeated¡¡Frankie£»¡¡looking¡¡round¡¡the¡¡room¡¡in¡¡a¡¡thoughtful¡¡manner£»¡¡¡®The¡¡chairs¡¡that's¡¡left¡¡aren't¡¡good¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡sell£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡can't¡¡sell¡¡the¡¡beds£»¡¡or¡¡your¡¡sofa£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡might¡¡pawn¡¡my¡¡velvet¡¡suit¡£'

¡®But¡¡even¡¡if¡¡all¡¡the¡¡things¡¡were¡¡good¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡sell£»¡¡the¡¡money¡¡we'd¡¡get¡¡for¡¡them¡¡wouldn't¡¡last¡¡very¡¡long£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡should¡¡we¡¡do¡¡then£¿'

¡®Well£»¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡we'd¡¡have¡¡to¡¡go¡¡without£»¡¡that's¡¡all£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡we¡¡did¡¡when¡¡Dad¡¡was¡¡in¡¡London¡¡¡£'

¡®But¡¡how¡¡do¡¡the¡¡people¡¡who¡¡never¡¡do¡¡any¡¡work¡¡manage¡¡to¡¡get¡¡lots¡¡of¡¡money¡¡then£¿'¡¡added¡¡Frankie¡£

¡®Oh£»¡¡there's¡¡lots¡¡of¡¡different¡¡ways¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡instance£»¡¡you¡¡remember¡¡when¡¡Dad¡¡was¡¡in¡¡London£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡had¡¡no¡¡food¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡the¡¡easy¡¡chair¡£'

Frankie¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¡¡®Yes£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡®I¡¡remember¡¡you¡¡wrote¡¡a¡¡note¡¡and¡¡I¡¡took¡¡it¡¡

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