the ragged trousered philanthropists-第26章

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　paid　only　fivepence　an　hour。　　At　the　same　time　it　would　never　do　to　let　Sawkins　know　that　he　was　satisfied　with　the　progress　made；　so　he　said：

‘I　don't　want　you　to　stand　too　much　over　this　up　'ere；　you　know；　Sawkins。　　Just　mop　it　over　anyhow；　and　get　away　from　it　as　quick　as　you　can。'

‘All　right；　sir；'　replied　Sawkins；　wiping　the　sweat　from　his　brow　as　Misery　began　crawling　downstairs　again。

‘Where's　Harlow　go　to；　then？'　he　demanded　of　Philpot。　　‘'E　wasn't　'ere　just　now；　when　I　came　up。'

‘'E's　gorn　downstairs；　sir；　out　the　back；'　replied　Joe；　jerking　his　thumb　over　his　shoulder　and　winking　at　Hunter。　　‘'E'll　be　back　in　'arf　a　mo。'　　And　indeed　at　that　moment　Harlow　was　just　coming　upstairs　again。

‘'Ere；　we　can't　allow　this　kind　of　thing　in　workin'　hours；　you　know。'　Hunter　bellowed。　　‘There's　plenty　of　time　for　that　in　the　dinner　hour！'

Nimrod　now　went　down　to　the　drawing…room；　which　Easton　and　Owen　had　been　painting。　　He　stood　here　deep　in　thought　for　some　time；　mentally　comparing　the　quantity　of　work　done　by　the　two　men　in　this　room　with　that　done　by　Sawkins　in　the　attics。　　Misery　was　not　a　painter　himself：　he　was　a　carpenter；　and　he　thought　but　little　of　the　difference　in　the　quality　of　the　work：　to　him　it　was　all　about　the　same：　just　plain　painting。

‘I　believe　it　would　pay　us　a　great　deal　better；'　he　thought　to　himself；　‘if　we　could　get　hold　of　a　few　more　lightweights　like　Sawkins。'　　And　with　his　mind　filled　with　this　reflection　he　shortly　afterwards　sneaked　stealthily　from　the　house。



Chapter　14

Three　Children。　The　Wages　of　Intelligence


Owen　spent　the　greater　part　of　the　dinner　hour　by　himself　in　the　drawing…room　making　pencil　sketches　in　his　pocket…book　and　taking　measurements。　　In　the　evening　after　leaving　off；　instead　of　going　straight　home　as　usual　he　went　round　to　the　Free　Library　to　see　if　he　could　find　anything　concerning　Moorish　decorative　work　in　any　of　the　books　there。　　Although　it　was　only　a　small　and　ill…equipped　institution　he　was　rewarded　by　the　discovery　of　illustrations　of　several　examples　of　which　he　made　sketches。　　After　about　an　hour　spent　this　way；　as　he　was　proceeding　homewards　he　observed　two　children　…　a　boy　and　a　girl　…　whose　appearance　seemed　familiar。　　They　were　standing　at　the　window　of　a　sweetstuff　shop　examining　the　wares　exposed　therein。　　As　Owen　came　up　the　children　turned　round　and　the　recognized　each　other　simultaneously。　　They　were　Charley　and　Elsie　Linden。　　Owen　spoke　to　them　as　he　drew　near　and　the　boy　appealed　to　him　for　his　opinion　concerning　a　dispute　they　had　been　having。

‘I　say；　mister。　　Which　do　you　think　is　the　best：　a　fardensworth　of　everlasting　stickjaw　torfee；　or　a　prize　packet？'

‘I'd　rather　have　a　prize　packet；'　replied　Owen；　unhesitatingly。

‘There！　　I　told　you　so！'　cried　Elsie；　triumphantly。

‘Well；　I　don't　care。　　I'd　sooner　'ave　the　torfee；'　said　Charley；　doggedly。

‘Why；　can't　you　agree　which　of　the　two　to　buy？'

‘Oh　no；　it's　not　that；'　replied　Elsie。　　‘We　was　only　just　SUPPOSING　what　we'd　buy　if　we　'ad　a　fardin；　but　we're　not　really　goin'　to　buy　nothing；　because　we　ain't　got　no　money。'

‘Oh；　I　see；'　said　Owen。　　‘But　I　think　*I*　have　some　money；'　and　putting　his　hand　into　his　pocket　he　produced　two　halfpennies　and　gave　one　to　each　of　the　children；　who　immediately　went　in　to　buy　the　toffee　and　the　prize　packet；　and　when　they　came　out　he　walked　along　with　them；　as　they　were　going　in　the　same　direction　as　he　was：　indeed；　they　would　have　to　pass　by　his　house。

‘Has　your　grandfather　got　anything　to　do　yet？'　he　inquired　as　they　went　along。

‘No。　　'E's　still　walkin'　about；　mister；'　replied　Charley。

When　they　reached　Owen's　door　he　invited　them　to　come　up　to　see　the　kitten；　which　they　had　been　inquiring　about　on　the　way。　　Frankie　was　delighted　with　these　two　visitors；　and　whilst　they　were　eating　some　home…made　cakes　that　Nora　gave　them；　he　entertained　them　by　displaying　the　contents　of　his　toy　box；　and　the　antics　of　the　kitten；　which　was　the　best　toy　of　all；　for　it　invented　new　games　all　the　time：　acrobatic　performances　on　the　rails　of　chairs；　curtain　climbing；　running　slides　up　and　down　the　oilcloth；　hiding　and　peeping　round　corners　and　under　the　sofa。　　The　kitten　cut　so　many　comical　capers；　and　in　a　little　while　the　children　began　to　create　such　an　uproar；　that　Nora　had　to　interfere　lest　the　people　in　the　flat　underneath　should　be　annoyed。

However；　Elsie　and　Charley　were　not　able　to　stay　very　long；　because　their　mother　would　be　anxious　about　them；　but　they　promised　to　come　again　some　other　day　to　play　with　Frankie。

‘I'm　going　to　'ave　a　prize　next　Sunday　at　our　Sunday　School；'　said　Elsie　as　they　were　leaving。

‘What　are　you　going　to　get　it　for？'　asked　Nora。

‘'Cause　I　learned　my　text　properly。　　I　had　to　learn　the　whole　of　the　first　chapter　of　Matthew　by　heart　and　I　never　made　one　single　mistake！　So　teacher　said　she'd　give　me　a　nice　book　next　Sunday。'

‘I　'ad　one　too；　the　other　week；　about　six　months　ago；　didn't　I；　Elsie？'　said　Charley。

‘Yes；'　replied　Elsie　and　added：　‘Do　they　give　prizes　at　your　Sunday　School；　Frankie？'

‘I　don't　go　to　Sunday　School。'

‘Ain't　you　never　been？'　said　Charley　in　a　tone　of　surprise。

‘No；'　replied　Frankie。　　‘Dad　says　I　have　quite　enough　of　school　all　the　week。'

‘You　ought　to　come　to　ours；　man！'　urged　Charley。　　‘It's　not　like　being　in　school　at　all！　　And　we　'as　a　treat　in　the　summer；　and　prizes　and　sometimes　a　magic　lantern　'tainment。　　It　ain't　'arf　all　right；　I　can　tell　you。'

Frankie　looked　inquiringly　at　his　mother。

‘Might　I　go；　Mum？'

‘Yes；　if　you　like；　dear。'

‘But　I　don't　know　the　way。'

‘Oh；　it's　not　far　from　'ere；'　cried　Charley。　　‘We　'as　to　pass　by　your　'ouse　when　we're　goin'；　so　I'll　call　for　you　on　Sunday　if　you　like。'

‘It's　only　just　round　in　Duke　Street；　you　know；　the　〃Shining　Light　Chapel〃；'　said　Elsie。　　‘It　commences　at　three　o'clock。'

‘All　right；'　said　Nora。　　‘I'll　have　Frankie　ready　at　a　quarter　to　three。　　But　now　you　must　run　home　as　fast　as　you　can。　　Did　you　like　those　cakes？'

‘Yes；　thank　you　very　much；'　answered　Elsie。

‘Not　'arf！'　said　Charley。

‘Does　your　mother　make　cakes　for　you　sometimes？'

‘She　used　to；　but　she's　too　busy　now；　making　blouses　and　one　thing　and　another；'　Elsie　answered。

‘I　suppose　she　hasn't　much　time　for　cooking；'　said　Nora；　‘so　I've　wrapped　up　some　more　of　those　cakes　in　this　parcel　for　you　to　take　home　for　tomorrow。　　I　think　you　can　manage　to　carry　it　all　right；　can't　you；　Charley？'

‘I　think　I'd　better　carry　it　myself；'　said　Elsie。　　‘Charley's　SO　careless；　he's　sure　to　lose　some　of　them。'

‘I　ain't　no　more　careless　than　you　are；'　cried　Charley；　indignantly。　‘What　about　the　time　you　dropped　the　quarter　of　butter　you　was　sent　for　in　the　mud？'

‘That　wasn't　carelessness：　that　was　an　accident；　and　it　wasn't　butter　at　all：　it　was　margarine；　so　there！'

Eventually　it　was　arranged　that　they　were　to　carry　the　parcel　in　turns；　Elsie　to　have　first　innings。　　Frankie　went　downstairs　to　the　front　door　with　them　to　see　them　off；　and　as　they　went　down　the　street　he　shouted　after　them：

‘Mind　you　remember；　next　Sunday！'

‘All　right；'　Charley　shouted　back。　　‘We　shan't　forget。'



On　Thursday　Owen　stayed　at　home　until　after　breakfast　to　finish　the　designs　which　he　had　promised　to　have　ready　that　morning。

When　he　took　them　to　the　office　at　nine　o'clock；　the　hour　at　which　he　had　arranged　to　meet　Rushton；　the　latter　had　not　yet　arrived；　and　he　did　not　put　in　an　appearance　until　half　an　hour　later。　　Like　the　majority　of　people　who　do　brain　work；　he　needed　a　great　deal　more　rest　than　those　who　do　only　mere　physical　labour。

‘Oh；　you've　brought　them　sketches；　I　suppose；'　he　remarked　in　a　surly　tone　as　he　came　in。　　‘You　know；　there　was　no　need　for　you　to　wait：　you　could　'ave　left　'em　'ere　and　gone　on　to　your　job。'

He　sat　down　at　his　desk　and　looked　carelessly　at　the　drawing　that　Owen　handed　to　him。　　It　was　on　a　sheet　of　paper　about　twenty…four　by　eighteen　inches。　　The　design　was　drawn　with　pencil　and　one　half　of　it　was　coloured。

‘That's　for　the　ceiling；'　said　Owen。　　‘I　hadn't　time　to　colour　all　of　it。'

With　an　affectation　of　indifference；　Rushton　laid　the　drawing　down　and　took　the　other　which　Owen　handed　to　him。

‘This　is　for　the　large　wall。　　The　same　design　would　be　adapted　for　the　other　walls；　and　this　one　shows　the　door　and　the　panels　under　the　window。'

Rushton　expressed　no　opinion　about　the　merits　of　the　drawings。　　He　examined　them　carelessly　one　after　the　other；　and　then；　laying　them　down；　he　inquired：

‘How　long　would　it　take　you　to　do　this　work　…　if　we　get　the　job？'

‘About　three　weeks：　say　150　hours。　　That　is　…　the　decorative　work　only。　　Of　course；　the　walls　and　ceiling　would　have　to　be　painted　first：　they　will　need　three　coats　of　white。'

Rushton　scribbled　a　note　on　a　piece　of　paper。

‘Well；'　he　said；　after　a　pause；　‘you　can　leave　these　'ere　and　I'll　see　Mr　Sweater　about　it　and　tell　'im　what　it　will　cost；　and　if　he　decides　to　have　it　done　I'll　let　you　know。'

He　put　the　drawings　aside　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　has　other　matters　to　attend　to；　and　began　to　open　one　of　the　several　letters　that　were　on　his　desk。　　He　meant　this　as　an　intimation　that　the　audience　was　at　an　end　and　that　he　desired　the　‘hand'　to　retire　from　the　presence。　Owen　understood　this；　but　he　did　not　retire；　because　it　was　necessary　to　mention　one　or　two　things　which　Rushton　would　have　to　allow　for　when　preparing　the　estimate。

‘Of　course　I　should　want　some　help；'　he　said。　　‘I　should　need　a　man　occasionally；　and　the　boy　most　of　the　time。　　Then　there's　the　gold　leaf　…　say；　fifteen　books。'

‘Don't　you　think　it　would　be　possible　to　use　gold　paint？'

‘I'm　afraid　not。'

‘Is　there　anything　else？'　inquired　Rushton　as　he　finished　writing　down　these　items。

‘I　think　that's　all；　except　a　few　sheets　of　cartridge　paper　for　stencils　and　working　drawings。　　The　quantity　of　paint　necessary　for　the　decorative　work　will　be　very　small。'

As　soon　as　Owen　was　gone；　Rushton　took　up　the　designs　and　examined　them　attentively。

‘These　are　all　right；'　he　muttered。　　‘Good　enough　for　anywhere。　　If　he　can　paint　anything　like　as　well　as　this　on　the　walls　and　ceiling　of　the　room；　it　will　stand　all　the　looking　at　that　anyone　in　this　town　is　likely　to　give　it。'

‘Let's　see；'　he　continued。　　‘He　said　three　weeks；　but　he's　so　anxious　to　do　the　job　that　he's　most　likely　under…estimated　the　time；　I'd　better　allow　four　weeks：　that　means　about　200　hours：　200　hours　at　eight…pence：　how　much　is　that？　　And　say　he　has　a　painter　to　help　him　half　the　time。　　100　hours　at　sixpence…ha'penny。'

He　consulted　a　ready　reckoner　that　was　on　the　desk。

‘Time；　？。7。6。　　Materials：　fifteen　books　of　gold；　say　a　pound。　　Then　there's　the　cartridge　paper　and　the　colours　…　say　another　pound；　at　the　outside。　　Boy's　time？　　Well；　he　gets　no　wages　as　yet；　so　we　needn't　mention　that　at　all。　　Then　there's　the　preparing　of　the　room。　Three　coats　of　white　paint。　　I　wish　Hunter　was　here　to　give　me　an　idea　what　it　will　cost。'

As　if　in　answer　to　his　wish；　Nimrod　entered　the　office　at　that　moment；　and　in　reply　to　Rushton's　query　said　that　to　give　the　walls　and　ceiling　three　coats　of　paint　would　cost　about　three　pounds　five　for　time　and　material。　　Between　them　the　two　brain　worker