the ragged trousered philanthropists-第35章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s　concern。

‘Although　naturally　robust；'　continued　Starr；　‘long；　continued　Overwork；　the　loving　solicitude　for　Others　that　often　prevented　him　taking　even　necessary　repose；　and　a　too　rigorous　devotion　to　the　practice　of　Self…denial　have　at　last　brought　about　the　inevitable　Breakdown；　and　rendered　a　period　of　Rest　absolutely　imperative。'

The　orator　paused　to　take　breath；　and　the　silence　that　ensued　was　disturbed　only　by　faint　rumblings　in　the　interior　of　the　ascetic　victim　of　overwork。

‘With　this　laudable　object；'　proceeded　Start；　‘a　Subscription　List　was　quietly　opened　about　a　month　ago；　and　those　dear　children　who　had　cards　and　assisted　in　the　good　work　of　collecting　donations　will　be　pleased　to　hear　that　altogether　a　goodly　sum　was　gathered；　but　as　it　was　not　quite　enough；　the　committee　voted　a　further　amount　out　of　the　General　Fund；　and　at　a　special　meeting　held　last　Friday　evening；　your　dear　Shepherd　was　presented　with　an　illuminated　address；　and　a　purse　of　gold　sufficient　to　defray　the　expenses　of　a　month's　holiday　in　the　South　of　France。

‘Although；　of　course；　he　regrets　being　separated　from　you　even　for　such　a　brief　period　he　feels　that　in　going　he　is　choosing　the　lesser　of　two　evils。　　It　is　better　to　go　to　the　South　of　France　for　a　month　than　to　continue　Working　in　spite　of　the　warnings　of　exhausted　nature　and　perhaps　be　taken　away　from　you　altogether　…　by　Heaven。'

‘God　forbid！'　fervently　ejaculated　several　disciples；　and　a　ghastly　pallor　overspread　the　features　of　the　object　of　their　prayers。

‘Even　as　it　is　there　is　a　certain　amount　of　danger。　　Let　us　hope　and　pray　for　the　best；　but　if　the　worst　should　happen　and　he　is　called　upon　to　Ascend；　there　will　be　some　satisfaction　in　knowing　that　you　have　done　what　you　could　to　avert　the　dreadful　calamity。'

Here；　probably　as　a　precaution　against　the　possibility　of　an　involuntary　ascent；　a　large　quantity　of　gas　was　permitted　to　escape　through　the　safety　valve　of　the　balloon。

‘He　sets　out　on　his　pilgrimage　tomorrow；'　concluded　Starr；　‘and　I　am　sure　he　will　be　followed　by　the　good　wishes　and　prayers　of　all　the　members　of　his　flock。'

The　reverend　gentleman　resumed　his　seat；　and　almost　immediately　it　became　evident　from　the　oscillations　of　the　balloon　that　Mr　Belcher　was　desirous　of　rising　to　say　a　Few　Words　in　acknowledgement；　but　he　was　restrained　by　the　entreaties　of　those　near　him；　who　besought　him　not　to　exhaust　himself。　　He　afterwards　said　that　he　would　not　have　been　able　to　say　much　even　if　they　had　permitted　him　to　speak；　because　he　felt　too　full。

‘During　the　absence　of　our　beloved　pastor；'　said　Brother　Didlum；　who　now　rose　to　give　out　the　closing　hymn；　‘his　flock　will　not　be　left　hentirely　without　a　shepherd；　for　we　'ave　arranged　with　Mr　Starr　to　come　and　say　a　Few　Words　to　us　hevery　Sunday。'

From　the　manner　in　which　they　constantly　referred　to　themselves；　it　might　have　been　thought　that　they　were　a　flock　of　sheep　instead　of　being　what　they　really　were　…　a　pack　of　wolves。

When　they　heard　Brother　Didlum's　announcement　a　murmur　of　intense　rapture　rose　from　the　ladies；　and　Mr　Starr　rolled　his　eyes　and　smiled　sweetly。　　Brother　Didlum　did　not　mention　the　details　of　the　‘arrangement'；　to　have　done　so　at　that　time　would　have　been　most　unseemly；　but　the　following　extract　from　the　accounts　of　the　chapel　will　not　be　out　of　place　here：　‘Paid　to　Rev。　John　Starr　for　Sunday；　Nov。　14　…　？。4。0　per　the　treasurer。'　　It　was　not　a　large　sum　considering　the　great　services　rendered　by　Mr　Starr；　but；　small　as　it　was；　it　is　to　be　feared　that　many　worldly；　unconverted　persons　will　think　it　was　far　too　much　to　pay　for　a　Few　Words；　even　such　wise　words　as　Mr　John　Starr's　admittedly　always　were。　　But　the　Labourer　is　worthy　of　his　hire。

After　the　‘service'　was　over；　most　of　the　children；　including　Charley　and　Frankie；　remained　to　get　collecting　cards。　Mr　Starr　was　surrounded　by　a　crowd　of　admirers；　and　a　little　later；　when　he　rode　away　with　Mr　Belcher　and　Mr　Sweater　in　the　latter's　motor　car；　the　ladies　looked　hungrily　after　that　conveyance；　listening　to　the　melancholy　‘pip；　pip'　of　its　hooter　and　trying　to　console　themselves　with　the　reflection　that　they　would　see　him　again　in　a　few　hours'　time　at　the　evening　service。



Chapter　18

The　Lodger


In　accordance　with　his　arrangement　with　Hunter；　Owen　commenced　the　work　in　the　drawing…room　on　the　Monday　morning。　　Harlow　and　Easton　were　distempering　some　of　the　ceilings；　and　about　ten　o'clock　they　went　down　to　the　scullery　to　get　some　more　whitewash。　　Crass　was　there　as　usual；　pretending　to　be　very　busy　mixing　colours。

‘Well；　wot　do　you　think　of　it？'　he　said　as　he　served　them　with　what　they　required。

‘Think　of　what？'　asked　Easton。

‘Why；　hour　speshul　hartist；'　replied　Crass　with　a　sneer。　　'Do　you　think　'e's　goin'　to　get　through　with　it？'

‘Shouldn't　like　to　say；'　replied　Easton　guardedly。

‘You　know　it's　one　thing　to　draw　on　a　bit　of　paper　and　colour　it　with　a　penny　box　of　paints；　and　quite　another　thing　to　do　it　on　a　wall　or　ceiling；'　continued　Crass。　　'Ain't　it？'

‘Yes；　that's　true　enough；'　said　Harlow。

‘Do　you　believe　they're　'is　own　designs？'　Crass　went　on。

‘Be　rather　'ard　to　tell；'　remarked　Easton；　embarrassed。

Neither　Harlow　nor　Easton　shared　Crass's　sentiments　in　this　matter；　but　at　the　same　time　they　could　not　afford　to　offend　him　by　sticking　up　for　Owen。

‘If　you　was　to　ast　me；　quietly；'　Crass　added；　‘I　should　be　more　inclined　to　say　as　'e　copied　it　all　out　of　some　book。'

‘That's　just　about　the　size　of　it；　mate；'　agreed　Harlow。

‘It　would　be　a　bit　of　all　right　if　'e　was　to　make　a　bloody　mess　of　it；　wouldn't　it？'　Crass　continued　with　a　malignant　leer。

‘Not　arf！'　said　Harlow。

When　the　two　men　regained　the　upper　landing　on　which　they　were　working　they　exchanged　significant　glances　and　laughed　quietly。　　Hearing　these　half…suppressed　sounds　of　merriment；　Philpot；　who　was　working　alone　in　a　room　close　by；　put　his　head　out　of　the　doorway。

‘Wot's　the　game？'　he　inquired　in　a　low　voice。

‘Ole　Crass　ain't　arf　wild　about　Owen　doin'　that　room；'　replied　Harlow；　and　repeated　the　substance　of　Crass's　remarks。

‘It　is　a　bit　of　a　take…down　for　the　bleeder；　ain't　it；　'avin'　to　play　second　fiddle；'　said　Philpot　with　a　delighted　grin。

‘'E's　opin'　Owen'll　make　a　mess　of　it；'　Easton　whispered。

‘Well；　'e'll　be　disappointed；　mate；'　answered　Philpot。　　‘I　was　workin'　along　of　Owen　for　Pushem　and　Sloggem　about　two　year　ago；　and　I　seen　'im　do　a　job　down　at　the　Royal　'Otel　…　the　smokin'…room　ceilin'　it　was　…　and　I　can　tell　you　it　looked　a　bloody　treat！'

‘I've　heard　tell　of　it；'　said　Harlow。

‘There's　no　doubt　Owen　knows　'is　work；'　remarked　Easton；　'although　'e　is　a　bit　orf　is　onion　about　Socialism。'

‘I　don't　know　so　much　about　that；　mate；'　returned　Philpot。　　‘I　agree　with　a　lot　that　'e　ses。　　I've　often　thought　the　same　things　meself；　but　I　can't　talk　like　'im；　'cause　I　ain't　got　no　'ead　for　it。'

‘I　agree　with　some　of　it　too；'　said　Harlow　with　a　laugh；　‘but　all　the　same　'e　does　say　some　bloody　silly　things；　you　must　admit。　　For　instance；　that　stuff　about　money　bein'　the　cause　of　poverty。'

‘Yes。　I　can't　exactly　see　that　meself；'　agreed　Philpot。

‘We　must　tackle　'im　about　that　at　dinner…time；'　said　Harlow。　　‘I　should　rather　like　to　'ear　'ow　'e　makes　it　out。'

‘For　Gord's　sake　don't　go　startin'　no　arguments　at　dinner…time；'　said　Easton。　　‘Leave　'im　alone　when　'e　is　quiet。'

‘Yes；　let's　'ave　our　dinner　in　peace；　if　possible；'　said　Philpot。　‘Sh！！'　he　added；　hoarsely；　suddenly　holding　up　his　hand　warningly。　They　listened　intently。　　It　was　evident　from　the　creaking　of　the　stairs　that　someone　was　crawling　up　them。　　Philpot　instantly　disappeared。　　Harlow　lifted　up　the　pail　of　whitewash　and　set　it　down　again　noisily。

‘I　think　we'd　better　'ave　the　steps　and　the　plank　over　this　side；　Easton；'　he　said　in　a　loud　voice。

‘Yes。　　I　think　that'll　be　the　best　way；'　replied　Easton。

While　they　were　arranging　their　scaffold　to　do　the　ceiling　Crass　arrived　on　the　landing。　　He　made　no　remark　at　first；　but　walked　into　the　room　to　see　how　many　ceilings　they　had　done。

‘You'd　better　look　alive；　you　chaps；　he　said　as　he　went　downstairs　again。　　‘If　we　don't　get　these　ceilings　finished　by　dinner…time；　Nimrod's　sure　to　ramp。'

‘All　right；'　said　Harlow；　gruffly。　　‘We'll　bloody　soon　slosh　'em　over。'

‘Slosh'　was　a　very　suitable　word；　very　descriptive　of　the　manner　in　which　the　work　was　done。　　The　cornices　of　the　staircase　ceilings　were　enriched　with　plaster　ornaments。　　These　ceilings　were　supposed　to　have　been　washed　off；　but　as　the　men　who　were　put　to　do　that　work　had　not　been　allowed　sufficient　time　to　do　it　properly；　the　crevices　of　the　ornaments　were　still　filled　up　with　old　whitewash；　and　by　the　time　Harlow　and　Easton　had　‘sloshed'　a　lot　more　whitewash　on　to　them　they　were　mere　formless　unsightly　lumps　of　plaster。　　The　‘hands'　who　did　the　‘washing　off'　were　not　to　blame。　　They　had　been　hunted　away　from　the　work　before　it　was　half　done。

While　Harlow　and　Easton　were　distempering　these　ceiling；　Philpot　and　the　other　hands　were　proceeding　with　the　painting　in　different　parts　of　the　inside　of　the　house；　and　Owen；　assisted　by　Bert；　was　getting　on　with　the　work　in　the　drawing…room；　striking　chalk　lines　and　measuring　and　setting　out　the　different　panels。

There　were　no　‘political'　arguments　that　day　at　dinner…time；　to　the　disappointment　of　Crass；　who　was　still　waiting　for　an　opportunity　to　produce　the　Obscurer　cutting。　　After　dinner；　when　the　others　had　all　gone　back　to　their　work；　Philpot　unobtrusively　returned　to　the　kitchen　and　gathered　up　the　discarded　paper　wrappers　in　which　some　of　the　men　had　brought　their　food。　　Spreading　one　of　these　open；　he　shook　the　crumbs　from　the　others　upon　it。　　In　this　way　and　by　picking　up　particles　of　bread　from　the　floor；　he　collected　a　little　pile　of　crumbs　and　crusts。　　To　these　he　added　some　fragments　that　he　had　left　from　his　own　dinner。　　He　then　took　the　parcel　upstairs　and　opening　one　of　the　windows　threw　the　crumbs　on　to　the　roof　of　the　portico。　　He　had　scarcely　closed　the　window　when　two　starlings　fluttered　down　and　began　to　eat。　　Philpot　watching　them　furtively　from　behind　the　shutter。　　The　afternoon　passed　uneventfully。　From　one　till　five　seemed　a　very　long　time　to　most　of　the　hands；　but　to　Owen　and　his　mate；　who　was　doing　something　in　which　they　were　able　to　feel　some　interest　and　pleasure；　the　time　passed　so　rapidly　that　they　both　regretted　the　approach　of　evening。

‘Other　days；'　remarked　Bert；　‘I　always　keeps　on　wishin'　it　was　time　to　go　'ome；　but　today　seems　to　'ave　gorn　like　lightnin'！'

After　leaving　off　that　night；　all　the　men　kept　together　till　they　arrived　down　town；　and　then　separated。　　Owen　went　by　himself：　Easton；　Philpot；　Crass　and　Bundy　adjourned　to　the　‘Cricketers　Arms'　to　have　a　drink　together　before　going　home；　and　Slyme；　who　was　a　teetotaler；　went　by　himself；　although　he　was　now　lodging　with　Easton。

‘Don't　wait　for　me；'　said　the　latter　as　he　went　off　with　Crass　and　the　others。　　‘I　shall　most　likely　catch　you　up　before　you　get　there。'

‘All　right；'　replied　Slyme。

This　evening　Slyme　did　not　take　the　direct　road　home。　　He　turned　into　the　main　street；　and；　pausing　before　the　window　of　a　toy　shop；　examined　the　articles　displayed　th