the ragged trousered philanthropists-第32章

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

They　both　replied　to　the　affirmative。

‘I've　never　worked　under　price　yet；'　added　Harlow。

‘Nor　me　neither；'　observed　Philpot。

‘Well；　of　course　you　can　please　yourselves；'　Hunter　continued；　‘but　after　this　week　we've　decided　not　to　pay　more　than　six　and　a　half。　Things　is　cut　so　fine　nowadays　that　we　can't　afford　to　go　on　payin'　sevenpence　any　longer。　　You　can　work　up　till　tomorrow　night　on　the　old　terms；　but　if　you're　not　willin'　to　accept　six　and　a　half　you　needn't　come　on　Saturday　morning。　　Please　yourselves。　　Take　it　or　leave　it。'

Harlow　and　Philpot　were　both　too　much　astonished　to　say　anything　in　reply　to　this　cheerful　announcement；　and　Hunter；　with　the　final　remark；　‘You　can　think　it　over；'　left　them　and　went　to　deliver　the　same　ultimatum　to　all　the　other　full…price　men；　who　took　it　in　the　same　way　as　Philpot　and　Harlow　had　done。　　Crass　and　Owen　were　the　only　two　whose　wages　were　not　reduced。

It　will　be　remembered　that　Newman　was　one　of　those　who　were　already　working　for　the　reduced　rate。　　Misery　found　him　alone　in　one　of　the　upper　rooms；　to　which　he　was　giving　the　final　coat。　　He　was　at　his　old　tricks。　　The　woodwork　of　the　cupboard　be　was　doing　was　in　a　rather　damaged　condition；　and　he　was　facing　up　the　dents　with　white…lead　putty　before　painting　it。　　He　knew　quite　well　that　Hunter　objected　to　any　but　very　large　holes　or　cracks　being　stopped；　and　yet　somehow　　or　other　he　could　not　scamp　the　work　to　the　extent　that　he　was　ordered　to；　and　so；　almost　by　stealth；　he　was　in　the　habit　of　doing　it　…　not　properly　but　as　well　as　he　dared。　　He　even　went　to　the　length　of　occasionally　buying　a　few　sheets　of　glasspaper　with　his　own　money；　as　Crass　had　told　Hunter。　　When　the　latter　came　into　the　room　he　stood　with　a　sneer　on　his　face；　watching　Newman　for　about　five　minutes　before　he　spoke。　　The　workman　became　very　nervous　and　awkward　under　this　scrutiny。

‘You　can　make　out　yer　time…sheet　and　come　to　the　office　for　yer　money　at　five　o'clock；'　said　Nimrod　at　last。　　‘We　shan't　require　your　valuable　services　no　more　after　tonight。'

Newman　went　white。

‘Why；　what's　wrong？'　said　he。　　‘What　have　I　done？'

‘Oh；　it's　not　wot　you've　DONE；'　replied　Misery。　　‘It's　wot　you've　not　done。　　That's　wot's　wrong！　　You've　not　done　enough；　that's　all！'　　And　without　further　parley　he　turned　and　went　out。

Newman　stood　in　the　darkening　room　feeling　as　if　his　heart　had　turned　to　lead。　　There　rose　before　his　mind　the　picture　of　his　home　and　family。　　He　could　see　them　as　they　were　at　this　very　moment；　the　wife　probably　just　beginning　to　prepare　the　evening　meal；　and　the　children　setting　the　cups　and　saucers　and　other　things　on　the　kitchen　table　…　a　noisy　work；　enlivened　with　many　a　frolic　and　childish　dispute。　　Even　the　two…year…old　baby　insisted　on　helping；　although　she　always　put　everything　in　the　wrong　place　and　made　all　sorts　of　funny　mistakes。　They　had　all　been　so　happy　lately　because　they　knew　that　he　had　work　that　would　last　till　nearly　Christmas　…　if　not　longer。　　And　now　this　had　happened　…　to　plunge　them　back　into　the　abyss　of　wretchedness　from　which　they　had　so　recently　escaped。　　They　still　owed　several　weeks'　rent；　and　were　already　so　much　in　debt　to　the　baker　and　the　grocer　that　it　was　hopeless　to　expect　any　further　credit。

‘My　God！'　said　Newman；　realizing　the　almost　utter　hopelessness　of　the　chance　of　obtaining　another　‘job'　and　unconsciously　speaking　aloud。　‘My　God！　　How　can　I　tell　them？　　What　WILL　become　of　us？'

Having　accomplished　the　objects　of　his　visit；　Hunter　shortly　afterwards　departed；　possibly　congratulating　himself　that　he　had　not　been　hiding　his　light　under　a　bushel；　but　that　he　had　set　it　upon　a　candlestick　and　given　light　unto　all　that　were　within　that　house。

As　soon　as　they　knew　that　he　was　gone；　the　men　began　to　gather　into　little　groups；　but　in　a　little　while　they　nearly　all　found　themselves　in　the　kitchen；　discussing　the　reduction。　　Sawkins　and　the　other　‘lightweights'　remained　at　their　work。　　Some　of　them　got　only　fourpence　halfpenny　…　Sawkins　was　paid　fivepence　…　so　none　of　these　were　affected　by　the　change。　　The　other　two　fresh　hands　…　the　journeymen　…　joined　the　crowd　in　the　kitchen；　being　anxious　to　conceal　the　fact　that　they　had　agreed　to　accept　the　reduced　rate　before　being　‘taken　on'。　　Owen　also　was　there；　having　heard　the　news　hem　Philpot。

There　was　a　lot　of　furious　talk。　　At　first　several　of　them　spoke　of　‘chucking　up'；　at　once；　but　others　were　more　prudent；　for　they　knew　that　if　they　did　leave　there　were　dozens　of　others　who　would　be　eager　to　take　their　places。

‘After　all；　you　know；'　said　Slyme；　who　had　…　stowed　away　somewhere　at　the　back　of　his　head　…　an　idea　of　presently　starting　business　on　his　own　account：　he　was　only　waiting　until　he　had　saved　enough　money；　‘after　all；　there's　something　in　what　'Unter　says。　　It's　very　'ard　to　get　a　fair　price　for　work　nowadays。　　Things　IS　cut　very　fine。'

‘Yes！　We　know　all　about　that！'　shouted　Harlow。　　‘And　who　the　bloody　'ell　is　it　cuts　'em？　　Why；　sich　brs　as　'Unter　and　Rushton！　　If　this　firm　'adn't　cut　this　job　so　fine；　some　other　firm　would　'ave　'ad　it　for　more　money。　　Rushton's　cuttin'　it　fine　didn't　MAKE　this　job；　did　it？　　It　would　'ave　been　done　just　the　same　if　they　'adn't　tendered　for　it　at　all！　　The　only　difference　is　that　we　should　'ave　been　workin'　for　some　other　master。'

‘I　don't　believe　the　bloody　job's　cut　fine　at　all！'　said　Philpot。

‘Rushton　is　a　pal　of　Sweater's　and　they're　both　members　of　the　Town　Council。'

‘That　may　be；'　replied　Slyme；　'but　all　the　same　I　believe　Sweater　got　several　other　prices　besides　Rushton's　…　friend　or　no　friend；　and　you　can't　blame　'im：　it's　only　business。　　But　pr'aps　Rushton　got　the　preference　…　Sweater　may　'ave　told　'im　the　others'　prices。'

‘Yes；　and　a　bloody　fine　lot　of　prices　they　was；　too；　if　the　truth　was　known！'　said　Bundy。　　〃There　was　six　other　firms　after　this　job　to　my　knowledge　…　Pushem　and　Sloggem；　Bluffum　and　Doemdown；　Dodger　and　Scampit；　Snatcham　and　Graball；　Smeeriton　and　Leavit；　Makehaste　and　Sloggitt；　and　Gord　only　knows　'ow　many　more。'

At　this　moment　Newman　came　into　the　room。　　He　looked　so　white　and　upset　that　the　others　involuntarily　paused　in　their　conversation。

‘Well；　what　do　YOU　think　of　it？'　asked　Harlow。

‘Think　of　what？'　said　Newman。

‘Why；　didn't　'Unter　tell　you？'　cried　several　voices；　whose　owners　looked　suspiciously　at　him。　　They　thought　…　if　Hunter　had　not　spoken　to　Newman；　it　must　be　because　he　was　already　working　under　price。　There　had　been　a　rumour　going　about　the　last　few　days　to　that　effect。

‘Didn't　Misery　tell　you？　　They're　not　goin'　to　pay　more　than　six　and　a　half　after　this　week。'

‘That's　not　what　'e　said　to　me。　　'E　just　told　me　to　knock　off。　Said　　I　didn't　do　enough　for　'em。'

‘Jesus　Christ！'　exclaimed　Crass；　pretending　to　be　overcome　with　surprise。

Newman's　account　of　what　had　transpired　was　listened　to　in　gloomy　silence。　　‘Those　who　…　a　few　minutes　previously　…　had　been　talking　loudly　of　chucking　up　the　job　became　filled　with　apprehension　that　they　might　be　served　in　the　same　manner　as　he　had　been。　　Crass　was　one　of　the　loudest　in　his　expression　of　astonishment　and　indignation；　but　he　rather　overdid　it　and　only　succeeded　in　confirming　the　secret　suspicion　of　the　others　that　he　had　had　something　to　do　with　Hunter's　action。

The　result　of　the　discussion　was　that　they　decided　to　submit　to　Misery's　terms　for　the　time　being；　until　they　could　see　a　chance　of　getting　work　elsewhere。

As　Owen　had　to　go　to　the　office　to　see　the　wallpaper　spoken　of　by　Hunter；　he　accompanied　Newman　when　the　latter　went　to　get　his　wages。　Nimrod　was　waiting　for　them；　and　had　the　money　ready　in　an　envelope；　which　he　handed　to　Newman；　who　took　it　without　speaking　and　went　away。

Misery　had　been　rummaging　amongst　the　old　wallpapers；　and　had　got　out　a　great　heap　of　odd　rolls；　which　he　now　submitted　to　Owen；　but　after　examining　them　the　latter　said　that　they　were　unsuitable　for　the　purpose；　so　after　some　argument　Misery　was　compelled　to　sign　an　order　for　some　proper　cartridge　paper；　which　Owen　obtained　at　a　stationer's　on　his　way　home。

The　next　morning；　when　Misery　went　to　the　‘Cave'；　he　was　in　a　fearful　rage；　and　he　kicked　up　a　terrible　row　with　Crass。　　He　said　that　Mr　Rushton　had　been　complaining　of　the　lack　of　discipline　on　the　job；　and　he　told　Crass　to　tell　all　the　hands　that　for　the　future　singing　in　working　hours　was　strictly　forbidden；　and　anyone　caught　breaking　this　rule　would　be　instantly　dismissed。

Several　times　during　the　following　days　Nimrod　called　at　Owen's　flat　to　see　how　the　work　was　progressing　and　to　impress　upon　him　the　necessity　of　not　taking　too　much　trouble　over　it。



Chapter　17

The　Rev。　John　Starr


‘What　time　is　it　now；　Mum？'　asked　Frankie　as　soon　as　he　had　finished　dinner　on　the　following　Sunday。

‘Two　o'clock。'

‘Hooray！　　Only　one　more　hour　and　Charley　will　be　here！　　Oh；　I　wish　it　was　three　o'clock　now；　don't　you；　Mother？'

‘No；　dear；　I　don't。　　You're　not　dressed　yet；　you　know。'

Frankie　made　a　grimace。

‘You're　surely　not　going　to　make　me　wear　my　velvets；　are　you；　Mum？　Can't　I　go　just　as　I　am；　in　my　old　clothes？'

The　‘velvets'　was　a　brown　suit　of　that　material　that　Nora　had　made　out　of　the　least　worn　parts　of　an　old　costume　of　her　own。

‘Of　course　not：　if　you　went　as　you　are　now；　you'd　have　everyone　staring　at　you。'

‘Well；　I　suppose　I'll　have　to　put　up　with　it；'　said　Frankie；　resignedly。

‘And　I　think　you'd　better　begin　to　dress　me　now；　don't　you？'

‘Oh；　there's　plenty　of　time　yet；　you'd　only　make　yourself　untidy　and　then　I　should　have　the　trouble　all　over　again。　　Play　with　your　toys　a　little　while；　and　when　I've　done　the　washing　up　I'll　get　you　ready。'

Frankie　obeyed；　and　for　about　ten　minutes　his　mother　heard　him　in　the　next　room　rummaging　in　the　box　where　he　stored　his　collection　of　‘things'。　　At　the　end　of　that　time；　however；　he　returned　to　the　kitchen。　　‘Is　it　time　to　dress　me　yet；　Mum？'

‘No；　dear；　not　yet。　　You　needn't　be　afraid；　you'll　be　ready　in　plenty　of　time。'

‘But　I　can't　help　being　afraid；　you　might　forget。'

‘Oh；　I　shan't　forget。　　There's　lots　of　time。'

‘Well；　you　know；　I　should　be　much　easier　in　my　mind　if　you　would　dress　me　now；　because　perhaps　our　clock's　wrong；　or　p'r'aps　when　you　begin　dressing　me　you'll　find　some　buttons　off　or　something；　and　then　there'll　be　a　lot　of　time　wasted　sewing　them　on；　or　p'r'aps　you　won't　be　able　to　find　my　clean　stockings　or　something　and　then　while　you're　looking　for　it　Charley　might　come；　and　if　he　sees　I'm　not　ready　he　mightn't　wait　for　me。'

‘Oh；　dear！'　said　Nora；　pretending　to　be　alarmed　at　this　appalling　list　of　possibilities。　　‘I　suppose　it　will　be　safer　to　dress　you　at　once。　It's　very　evident　you　won't　let　me　have　much　peace　until　it　is　done；　but　mind　when　you're　dressed　you'll　have　to　sit　down　quietly　and　wait　till　he　comes；　because　I　don't　want　the　trouble　of　dressing　you　twice。'

‘Oh；　I　don't　mind　sitting　still；'　returned　Frankie；　loftily。　　‘That's　very　easy。

‘I　don't　mind　having　to　take　care　of　my　clothes；'　said　Frankie　as　his　mother　…　having　washed　and　dressed　him；　was　putting　the　finishing　touches　to　his　hair；　brushing　and　combing　and　curling　the　long　yellow　locks　into