the ragged trousered philanthropists-第31章

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‘So　am　I；'　remarked　the　man　behind　the　moat。　　‘I　was　just　wondering　whether　I　'adn't　better　tell　ole　Misery　that　I　don't　want　no　wages　this　week。'

‘I　think　I'll　tell　'im　on　Saterday　to　keep　MY　money　and　get　'imself　a　few　drinks　with　it；'　said　Philpot。　　‘It　might　cheer　'im　up　a　bit　and　make　'im　a　little　more　sociable　and　friendly　like。'

‘Money　IS　the　principal　cause　of　poverty；'　said　Owen。

‘'Ow　do　yer　make　it　out？'　cried　Sawkins。

But　their　curiosity　had　to　remain　unsatisfied　for　the　time　being　because　Crass　announced　that　it　was　‘just　on　it'。



Chapter　16

True　Freedom


About　three　o'clock　that　afternoon；　Rushton　suddenly　appeared　and　began　walking　silently　about　the　house；　and　listening　outside　the　doors　of　rooms　where　the　hands　were　working。　　He　did　not　succeed　in　catching　anyone　idling　or　smoking　or　talking。　　The　nearest　approach　to　what　the　men　called　‘a　capture'　that　he　made　was；　as　he　stood　outside　the　door　of　one　of　the　upper　rooms　in　which　Philpot　and　Harlow　were　working；　he　heard　them　singing　one　of　Sankey's　hymns　…　‘Work！　for　the　night　is　coming'。　　He　listened　to　two　verses　and　several　repetitions　of　the　chorus。　　Being　a　‘Christian'；　he　could　scarcely　object　to　this；　especially　as　by　peeping　through　the　partly　open　door　　he　could　see　that　they　were　suiting　the　action　to　the　word。　　When　he　went　into　the　room　they　glanced　around　to　see　who　it　was；　and　stopped　singing。　Rushton　did　not　speak；　but　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　silently　watching　them　as　they　worked；　for　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　　Then；　without　having　uttered　a　syllable；　he　turned　and　went　out。

They　heard　him　softly　descend　the　stairs；　and　Harlow；　turning　to　Philpot　said　in　a　hoarse　whisper：

‘What　do　you　think　of　the　br；　standing　there　watchin'　us　like　that；　as　if　we　was　a　couple　of　bloody　convicts？　　If　it　wasn't　that　I've　got　someone　else　beside　myself　to　think　of；　I　would　'ave　sloshed　the　bloody　sod　in　the　mouth　with　this　pound　brush！'

‘Yes；　it　does　make　yer　feel　like　that；　mate；'　replied　Philpot；　‘but　of　course　we　mustn't　give　way　to　it。'

‘Several　times；'　continued　Harlow；　who　was　livid　with　anger；　‘I　was　on　the　point　of　turnin'　round　and　sayin'　to　'im；　〃What　the　bloody　'ell　do　you　mean　by　standin'　there　and　watchin'　me；　you　bloody；　psalm…singin'　swine？〃　　It　took　me　all　my　time　to　keep　it　in；　I　can　tell　you。'

Meanwhile；　Rushton　was　still　going　about　the　house；　occasionally　standing　and　watching　the　other　men　in　the　same　manner　as　he　had　watched　Philpot　and　Harlow。

None　of　the　men　looked　round　from　their　work　or　spoke　either　to　Rushton　or　to　each　other。　　The　only　sounds　heard　were　the　noises　made　by　the　saws　and　hammers　of　the　carpenters　who　were　fixing　the　frieze　rails　and　dado　rails　or　repairing　parts　of　the　woodwork　in　some　of　the　rooms。

Crass　placed　himself　in　Rushton's　way　several　times　with　the　hope　of　being　spoken　to；　but　beyond　curtly　acknowledging　the　‘foreman's'　servile　‘Good　hafternoon；　sir；'　the　master　took　no　notice　of　him。

After　about　an　hour　spent　in　this　manner　Rushton　went　away；　but　as　no　one　say　him　go；　it　was　not　until　some　considerable　time　after　his　departure　that　they　knew　that　he　was　gone。

Owen　was　secretly　very　disappointed。　　‘I　thought　he　had　come　to　tell　me　about　the　drawing…room；'　he　said　to　himself；　‘but　I　suppose　it's　not　decided　yet。'

Just　as　the　‘hands'　were　beginning　to　breathe　freely　again；　Misery　arrived；　carrying　some　rolled…up　papers　in　his　hand。　　He　also　flitted　silently　from　one　room　to　another；　peering　round　corners　and　listening　at　doors　in　the　hope　of　seeing　or　hearing　something　which　would　give　him　an　excuse　for　making　an　example　of　someone。　　Disappointed　in　this；　he　presently　crawled　upstairs　to　the　room　where　Owen　was　working　and；　handing　to　him　the　roll　of　papers　he　had　been　carrying；　said：

‘Mr　Sweater　had　decided　to　'ave　this　work　done；　so　you　can　start　on　it　as　soon　as　you　like。'

It　is　impossible　to　describe；　without　appearing　to　exaggerate；　the　emotions　experienced　by　Owen　as　he　heard　this　announcement。　　For　one　thing　it　meant　that　the　work　at　this　house　would　last　longer　than　it　would　otherwise　have　done；　and　it　also　meant　that　he　would　be　paid　for　the　extra　time　he　had　spent　on　the　drawings；　besides　having　his　wages　increased　…　for　he　was　always　paid　an　extra　penny　an　hour　when　engaged　on　special　work；　such　as　graining　or　sign…writing　or　work　of　the　present　kind。　　But　these　considerations　did　not　occur　to　him　at　the　moment　at　all；　for　to　him　it　meant　much　more。　　Since　his　first　conversation　on　the　subject　with　Rushton　he　had　though　of　little　else　than　this　work。

In　a　sense　he　had　been　DOING　it　ever　since。　　He　had　thought　and　planned　and　altered　the　details　of　the　work　repeatedly。　　The　colours　for　the　different　parts　had　been　selected　and　rejected　and　re…selected　over　and　over　again。　　A　keen　desire　to　do　the　work　had　grown　within　him；　but　he　had　scarcely　allowed　himself　to　hope　that　it　would　be　done　at　all。　　His　face　flushed　slightly　as　he　took　the　drawings　from　Hunter。

‘You　can　make　a　start　on　it　tomorrow　morning；'　continued　that　gentleman。　　‘I'll　tell　Crass　to　send　someone　else　up　'ere　to　finish　this　room。'

‘I　shan't　be　able　to　commence　tomorrow；　because　the　ceiling　and　walls　will　have　to　be　painted　first。'

‘Yes：　I　know。　　You　and　Easton　can　do　that。　　One　coat　tomorrow；　another　on　Friday　and　the　third　on　Saturday　…　that　is；　unless　you　can　make　it　do　with　two　coats。　　Even　if　it　has　to　be　the　three；　you　will　be　able　to　go　on　with　your　decoratin'　on　Monday。'

‘I　won't　be　able　to　start　on　Monday；　because　I　shall　have　to　make　some　working　drawings　first。'

‘Workin'　drorins！'　ejaculated　Misery　with　a　puzzled　expression。　　‘Wot　workin'　drorins？　　You've　got　them；　ain't　yer？'　pointing　to　the　roll　of　papers。

‘Yes：　but　as　the　same　ornaments　are　repeated　several　times；　I　shall　have　to　make　a　number　of　full…sized　drawings；　with　perforated　outlines；　to　transfer　the　design　to　the　walls；'　said　Owen；　and　he　proceeded　to　laboriously　explain　the　processes。

Nimrod　looked　at　him　suspiciously。　　‘Is　all　that　really　necessary？'　he　asked。　　‘Couldn't　you　just　copy　it　on　the　wall；　free…hand？'

‘No；　that　wouldn't　do。　　It　would　take　much　longer　that　way。'

This　consideration　appealed　to　Misery。

‘Ah；　well；'　he　sighed。　　‘I　s'pose　you'll　'ave　to　do　it　the　way　you　said；　but　for　goodness　sake　don't　spend　too　much　time　over　it；　because　we've　took　it　very　cheap。　　We　only　took　it　on　so　as　you　could　'ave　a　job；　not　that　we　expect　to　make　any　profit　out　of　it。'

‘And　I　shall　have　to　cut　some　stencils；　so　I　shall　need　several　sheets　of　cartridge　paper。'

Upon　hearing　of　this　addition　expense；　Misery's　long　visage　appeared　to　become　several　inches　longer；　but　after　a　moment's　thought　he　brightened　up。

‘I'll　tell　you　what！'　he　exclaimed　with　a　cunning　leer；　‘there's　lots　of　odd　rolls　of　wallpaper　down　at　the　shop。　　Couldn't　you　manage　with　some　of　that？'

‘I'm　afraid　it　wouldn't　do；'　replied　Owen　doubtfully；　‘but　I'll　have　a　look　at　it　and　if　possible　I'll　use　it。'

‘Yes；　do！'　said　Misery；　pleased　at　the　thought　of　saving　something。　‘Call　at　the　shop　on　your　way　home　tonight；　and　we'll　see　what　we　can　find。　　'Ow　long　do　you　think　it'll　take　you　to　make　the　drorins　and　the　stencils？'

‘Well；　today's　Thursday。　　If　you　let　someone　else　help　Easton　to　get　the　room　ready；　I　think　I　can　get　them　done　in　time　to　bring　them　with　me　on　Monday　morning。'

‘Wot　do　yer　mean；　〃bring　them　with　you〃？'　demanded　Nimrod。

‘I　shall　have　to　do　them　at　home；　you　know。'

‘Do　'em　at　'ome！　　Why　can't　you　do　'em　'ere？'

‘Well；　there's　no　table；　for　one　thing。'

‘Oh；　but　we　can　soon　fit　you　out　with　a　table。　You　can　'ave　a　pair　of　paperhanger's　tressels　and　boards　for　that　matter。'

‘I　have　a　lot　of　sketches　and　things　at　home　that　I　couldn't　very　well　bring　here；'　said　Owen。

Misery　argued　about　it　for　a　long　time；　insisting　that　the　drawings　should　be　made　either　on　the　‘job'　or　at　the　paint…shop　down　at　the　yard。　　How；　he　asked；　was　be　to　know　at　what　hour　Owen　commenced　or　left　off　working；　if　the　latter　did　them　at　home？

‘I　shan't　charge　any　more　time　than　I　really　work；'　replied　Owen。　　‘I　can't　possibly　do　them　here　or　at　the　paint…shop。　　I　know　I　should　only　make　a　mess　of　them　under　such　conditions。'

‘Well；　I　s'pose　you'll　'ave　to　'ave　your　own　way；'　said　Misery；　dolefully。　　‘I'll　let　Harlow　help　Easton　paint　the　room　out；　so　as　you　can　get　your　stencils　and　things　ready。　　But　for　Gord's　sake　get　'em　done　as　quick　as　you　can。　　If　you　could　manage　to　get　done　by　Friday　and　come　down　and　help　Easton　on　Saturday；　it　would　be　so　much　the　better。　　And　when　you　do　get　a　start　on　the　decoratin'；　I　shouldn't　take　too　much　care　over　it；　you　know；　if　I　was　you；　because　we　'ad　to　take　the　job　for　next　to　nothing　or　Mr　Sweater　would　never　'ave　'ad　it　done　at　all！'

Nimrod　now　began　to　crawl　about　the　house；　snarling　and　grumbling　at　everyone。

‘Now　then；　you　chaps。　　Rouse　yourselves！'　he　bellowed；　'you　seem　to　think　this　is　a　'orspital。　　If　some　of　you　don't　make　a　better　show　than　this；　I'll　'ave　to　'ave　a　Alteration！　　There's　plenty　of　chaps　walkin'　about　doin'　nothin'　who'll　be　only　too　glad　of　a　job！'

He　went　into　the　scullery；　where　Crass　was　mixing　some　colour。

‘Look　'ere；　Crass！'　he　said。　　‘I'm　not　at　all　satisfied　with　the　way　you're　gettin'　on　with　the　work。　　You　must　push　the　chaps　a　bit　more　than　you're　doin'。　　There's　not　enough　being　done；　by　a　long　way。　　We　shall　lose　money　over　this　job　before　we're　finished！'

Crass　…　whose　fat　face　had　turned　a　ghastly　green　with　fright　…　mumbled　something　about　getting　on　with　it　as　fast　as　he　could。

‘Well；　you'll　'ave　to　make　'em　move　a　bit　quicker　than　this！'　Misery　howled；　'or　there'll　'ave　to　be　a　ALTERATION！'

By　an　‘alteration'　Crass　understood　that　he　might　get　the　sack；　or　that　someone　else　might　be　put　in　charge　of　the　job；　and　that　would　of　course　reduce　him　to　the　ranks　and　do　away　with　his　chance　of　being　kept　on　longer　than　the　others。　　He　determined　to　try　to　ingratiate　himself　with　Hunter　and　appease　his　wrath　by　sacrificing　someone　else。　He　glanced　cautiously　into　the　kitchen　and　up　the　passage　and　then；　lowering　his　voice；　he　said：

‘They　all　shapes　pretty　well；　except　Newman。　　I　would　'ave　told　you　about　'im　before；　but　I　thought　I'd　give　'im　a　fair　chance。　　I've　spoke　to　'im　several　times　myself　about　not　doin'　enough；　but　it　don't　seem　to　make　no　difference。'

‘I've　'ad　me　eye　on　'im　meself　for　some　time；'　replied　Nimrod　in　the　same　tone。　　‘Anybody　would　think　the　work　was　goin'　to　be　sent　to　a　Exhibition；　the　way　'e　messes　about　with　it；　rubbing　it　with　glasspaper　and　stopping　up　every　little　crack！　　I　can't　understand　where　'e　gets　all　the　glasspaper　FROM'

‘'E　brings　it　'isself！'　said　Crass　hoarsely。　　‘I　know　for　a　fact　that　'e　bought　two　'a'penny　sheets　of　it；　last　week　out　of　'is　own　money！'

‘Oh；　'e　did；　did　'e？'　snarled　Misery。　　‘I'll　give　'im　glasspaper！　I'll　'ave　a　Alteration！'

He　went　into　the　hall；　where　he　remained　alone　for　a　considerable　time；　brooding。　　At　last；　with　the　manner　of　one　who　has　resolved　on　a　certain　course　of　action；　he　turned　and　entered　the　room　where　Philpot　and　Harlow　were　working。

‘You　both　get　sevenpence　an　hour；　don't　you？'　he　said。