the ragged trousered philanthropists-第36章

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‘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　therein　attentively。　　After　some　minutes　he　appeared　to　have　come　to　a　decision；　and　entering　the　shop　he　purchased　a　baby's　rattle　for　fourpence　halfpenny。　　It　was　a　pretty　toy　made　of　white　bone　and　coloured　wool；　with　a　number　of　little　bells　hanging　upon　it；　and　a　ring　of　white　bone　at　the　end　of　the　handle。

When　he　came　out　of　the　shop　Slyme　set　out　for　home；　this　time　walking　rapidly。　　When　he　entered　the　house　Ruth　was　sitting　by　the　fire　with　the　baby　on　her　lap。　　She　looked　up　with　an　expression　of　disappointment　as　she　perceived　that　he　was　alone。

‘Where's　Will　got　to　again？'　she　asked。

‘He's　gone　to　'ave　a　drink　with　some　of　the　chaps。　　He　said　he　wouldn't　be　long；'　replied　Slyme　as　he　put　his　food　basket　on　the　dresser　and　went　upstairs　to　his　room　to　wash　and　to　change　his　clothes。

When　he　came　down　again；　Easton　had　not　yet　arrived。

‘Everything's　ready；　except　just　to　make　the　tea；'　said　Ruth；　who　was　evidently　annoyed　at　the　continued　absence　of　Easton；　‘so　you　may　as　well　have　yours　now。'

‘I'm　in　no　hurry。　　I'll　wait　a　little　and　see　if　he　comes。　　He's　sure　to　be　here　soon。'

‘If　you're　sure　you　don't　mind；　I　shall　be　glad　if　you　will　wait；'　said　Ruth；　‘because　it　will　save　me　making　two　lots　of　tea。'

They　waited　for　about　half　an　hour；　talking　at　intervals　in　a　constrained；　awkward　way　about　trivial　subjects。　　Then　as　Easton　did　not　come；　Ruth　decided　to　serve　Slyme　without　waiting　any　longer。　With　this　intention　she　laid　the　baby　in　its　cot；　but　the　child　resented　this　arrangement　and　began　to　cry；　so　she　had　to　hold　him　under　her　left　arm　while　she　made　the　tea。　　Seeing　her　in　this　predicament；　Slyme　exclaimed；　holding　out　his　hands：

‘Here；　let　me　hold　him　while　you　do　that。'

‘Will　you？'　said　Ruth；　who；　in　spite　of　her　instinctive　dislike　of　the　man；　could　not　help　feeling　gratified　with　this　attention。　　‘Well；　mind　you　don't　let　him　fall。'

But　the　instant　Slyme　took　hold　of　the　child　it　began　to　cry　even　louder　than　it　did　when　it　was　put　into　the　cradle。

‘He's　always　like　that　with　strangers；'　apologized　Ruth　as　she　took　him　back　again。

‘Wait　a　minute；'　said　Slyme；　‘I've　got　something　upstairs　in　my　pocket　that　will　keep　him　quiet。　　I'd　forgotten　all　about　it。'

He　went　up　to　his　room　and　presently　returned　with　the　rattle。　　When　the　baby　saw　the　bright　colours　and　heard　the　tinkling　of　the　bells　he　crowed　with　delight；　and　reached　out　his　hands　eagerly　towards　it　and　allowed　Slyme　to　take　him　without　a　murmur　of　protest。　　Before　Ruth　had　finished　making　and　serving　the　tea　the　man　and　child　were　on　the　very　best　of　terms　with　each　other；　so　much　so　indeed　that　when　Ruth　had　finished　and　went　to　take　him　again；　the　baby　seemed　reluctant　to　part　from　Slyme；　who　had　been　dancing　him　in　the　air　and　tickling　him　in　the　most　delightful　way。

Ruth；　too；　began　to　have　a　better　opinion　of　Slyme；　and　felt　inclined　to　reproach　herself　for　having　taken　such　an　unreasonable　dislike　of　him　at　first。　　He　was　evidently　a　very　good　sort　of　fellow　after　all。

The　baby　had　by　this　time　discovered　the　use　of　the　bone　ring　at　the　end　of　the　handle　of　the　toy　and　was　biting　it　energetically。

‘It's　a　very　beautiful　rattle；'　said　Ruth。　　'Thank　you　very　much　for　it。　　It's　just　the　very　thing　he　wanted。'

‘I　heard　you　say　the　other　day　that　he　wanted　something　of　the　kind　to　bite　on　to　help　his　teeth　through；'　answered　Slyme；　‘and　when　I　happened　to　notice　that　in　the　shop　I　remembered　what　you　said　and　thought　I'd　bring　it　home。'

The　baby　took　the　ring　out　of　its　mouth　and　shaking　the　rattle　frantically　in　the　air　laughed　and　crowed　merrily；　looking　at　Slyme。

‘Dad！　Dad！　Dad！'　he　cried；　holding　out　his　arms。

Slyme　and　Ruth　burst　out　laughing。

‘That's　not　your　Dad；　you　silly　boy；'　she　said；　kissing　the　child　as　she　spoke。　　‘Your　dad　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　himself　for　staying　out　like　this。　　We'll　give　him　dad；　dad；　dad；　when　he　does　come　home；　won't　we？'

But　the　baby　only　shook　the　rattle　and　rang　the　bells　and　laughed　and　crowed　and　laughed　again；　louder　than　ever。



Chapter　19

The　Filling　of　the　Tank


Viewed　from　outside；　the　‘Cricketers　Arms'　was　a　pretentious…looking　building　with　plate…glass　windows　and　a　profusion　of　gilding。　　The　pilasters　were　painted　in　imitation　of　different　marbles　and　the　doors　grained　to　represent　costly　woods。　　There　were　panels　containing　painted　advertisements　of　wines　and　spirits　and　beer；　written　in　gold；　and　ornamented　with　gaudy　colours。　　On　the　lintel　over　the　principal　entrance　was　inscribed　in　small　white　letters：

‘A。　Harpy。　　Licensed　to　sell　wines；　spirits　and　malt　liquor　by　retail　to　be　consumed　either　on　or　off　the　premises。'

The　bar　was　arranged　in　the　usual　way；　being　divided　into　several　compartments。　　First　there　was　the　‘Saloon　Bar'：　on　the　glass　of　the　door　leading　into　this　was　fixed　a　printed　bill：　‘No　four　ale　served　in　this　bar。'　　Next　to　the　saloon　bar　was　the　jug　and　bottle　department；　much　appreciated　by　ladies　who　wished　to　indulge　in　a　drop　of　gin　on　the　quiet。　　There　were　also　two　small　‘private'　bars；　only　capable　of　holding　two　or　three　persons；　where　nothing　less　than　fourpennyworth　of　spirits　or　glasses　of　ale　at　threepence　were　served。　Finally；　the　public　bar；　the　largest　compartment　of　all。　　At　each　end；　separating　it　from　the　other　departments；　was　a　wooden　partition；　painted　and　varnished。

Wooden　forms　fixed　across　the　partitions　and　against　the　walls　under　the　windows　provided　seating　accommodation　for　the　customers。　　A　large　automatic　musical　instrument　…　a　‘penny　in　the　slot'　polyphone　…　resembling　a　grandfather's　clock　in　shape　…　stood　against　one　of　the　partitions　and　close　up　to　the　counter；　so　that　those　behind　the　bar　could　reach　to　wind　it　up。　　Hanging　on　the　partition　near　the　polyphone　was　a　board　about　fifteen　inches　square；　over　the　surface　of　which　were　distributed　a　number　of　small　hooks；　numbered。　　At　the　bottom　of　the　board　was　a　net　made　of　fine　twine；　extended　by　means　of　a　semi…circular　piece　of　wire。　　In　this　net　several　india…rubber　rings　about　three　inches　in　diameter　were　lying。　　There　was　no　table　in　the　place　but　jutting　out　from　the　other　partition　was　a　hinged　flap　about　three　feet　long　by　twenty　inches　wide；　which　could　be　folded　down　when　not　in　use。　　This　was　the　shove…ha'penny　board。　　The　coins　…　old　French　pennies　…　used　in　playing　this　game　were　kept　behind　the　bar　and　might　be　borrowed　on　application。　　On　the　partition；　just　above　the　shove…ha'penny　board　was　a　neatly　printed　notice；　framed　and　glazed：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　NOTICE

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Gentlemen　using　this　house　are　requested　to　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　refrain　from　using　obscene　language。

Alongside　this　notice　were　a　number　of　gaudily…coloured　bills　advertising　the　local　theatre　and　the　music…hall；　and　another　of　a　travelling　circus　and　menagerie；　then　visiting　the　town　and　encamped　on　a　piece　of　waste　ground　about　half…way　on　the　road　to　Windley。　　The　fittings　behind　the　bar；　and　the　counter；　were　of　polished　mahogany；　with　silvered　plate　glass　at　the　back　of　the　shelves。　　On　the　shelves　were　rows　of　bottles　and　cut…glass　decanters；　gin；　whisky；　brandy　and　wines　and　liqueurs　of　different　kinds。

When　Crass；　Philpot；　Easton　and　Bundy　entered；　the　landlord；　a　well…fed；　prosperous…looking　individual　in　white　shirt…sleeves；　and　a　bright　maroon　fancy　waistcoat　with　a　massive　gold　watch…chain　and　a　diamond　ring；　was　conversing　in　an　affable；　friendly　way　with　one　of　his　regular　customers；　who　was　sitting　on　the　end　of　the　seat　close　to　the　counter；　a　shabbily　dressed；　bleary…eyed；　degraded；　beer…sodden；　trembling　wretch；　who　spent　the　greater　part　of　every　day；　and　all　his　money；　in　this　bar。　　He　was　a　miserable…looking　wreck　of　a　man　about　thirty　years　of　age；　supposed　to　be　a　carpenter；　although　he　never　worked　at　that　trade　now。　　It　was　commonly　said　that　some　years　previously　he　had　married　a　woman　considerably　his　senior；　the　landlady　of　a　third…rate　lodging…house。　　This　business　was　evidently　sufficiently　prosperous　to　enable　him　to　exist　without　working　and　to　maintain　himself　in　a　condition　of　perpetual　semi…intoxication。　　This　besotted　wretch　practically　lived　at　the　'Cricketers'。　　He　came　regularly　very　morning　and　sometimes　earned　a　pint　of　beer　by　assisting　the　barman　to　sweep　up　the　sawdust　or　clean　the　windows。　　He　usually　remained　in　the　bar　until　closing　time　every　night。　　He　was　a　very　good　customer；　not　only　did　he　spend　whatever　money　he　could　get　hold　of　himself；　but　he　was　the　cause　of　others　spending　money；　for　he　was　acquainted　with　most　of　the　other　regular　customers；　who；　knowing　his　impecunious　condition；　often　stood　him　a　drink　‘for　the　good　of　the　house'。

The　only　other　occupant　of　the　public　bar　…　previous　to　the　entrance　of　Crass　and　his　mates　…　was　a　semi…drunken　man；　who　appeared　to　be　a　house…painter；　sitting　on　the　form　near　the　shove…ha'penny　board。　　He　was　wearing　a　battered　bowler　hat　and　the　usual　shabby　clothes。　　This　individual　had　a　very　thin；　pale　face；　with　a　large；　high…bridged　nose；　and　bore　a　striking　resemblance　to　the　portraits　of　the　first　Duke　of　Wellington。　　He　was　not　a　regular　customer　here；　having　dropped　in　casually　about　two　o'clock　and　had　remained　ever　since。　　He　was　beginning　to　show　the　effects　of　the　drink　he　had　taken　during　that　time。

As　Crass　and　the　others　came　in　they　were　hailed　with　enthusiasm　by　the　landlord　and　the　Besotted　Wretch；　while　the　semi…drunk　workman　regarded　them　with　fishy　eyes　and　stupid　curiosity。

‘Wot　cheer；　Bob？'　said　the　landlord；　affably；　addressing　Crass；　and　nodding　familiarly　to　the　others。　　‘'Ow　goes　it？'

‘All　reet　me　ole　dear！'　replied　Crass；　jovially。　　‘'Ow's　yerself？'

‘A。1；'　replied　the　‘Old　Dear'；　getting　up　from　his　chair　in　readiness　to　execute　their　orders。

‘Well；　wot's　it　to　be？'　inquired　Philpot　of　the　others　generally。

‘Mine's　a　pint　o'　beer；'　said　Crass。

‘Half　for　me；'　said　Bundy。

‘Half　o'　beer　for　me　too；'　replied　Easton。

‘That's　one　pint；　two　'arves；　and　a　pint　o'　porter　for　meself；'　said　Philpot；　turning　and　addressing　the　Old　Dear。

While　the　landlord　was　serving　these　drinks　the　Besotted　Wretch　finished　his　beer　and　set　the　empty　glass　down　on　the　counter；　and　Philpot　observing　this；　said　to　him：

‘'Ave　one　along　o'　me？'

‘I　don't　mind　if　I　do；'　replied　the　other。

When　the　drinks　were　served；　Philpot；　instead　of　paying　for　them；　winked　significantly　at　the　landlord；　who　nodded　silently　and　unobtrusively　made　an　entry　in　an　account　book　that　was　lying　on　one　of　the　shelves。　　Although　it　was　only　Monday　and　he　had　been　at　work　all　the　previous　week；　Philpot　was　already　stony　broke。　　This　was　accounted　for　by　the　fact　that　on　Saturday　he　had　paid　his　landlady　something　on　account　of　the　arrears　of　board　and　lodging　money　that　had　accumulated　while　he　was　out　of　work；　and　he　had　also　paid　the　Old　Dear　four　shillings　for　drinks　obtained　on　tick　during　the　last　week。

‘Well；　'ere's　the　skin　orf　yer　nose；'　said　Crass；　nodding　to　Philpot；　and　taking　a　long　pull　at　the