the ragged trousered philanthropists-第44章

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ept　on；　the　job　could　scarcely　be　finished　in　another　week。　　Anyhow；　it　would　not　be　very　long　now　before　they　would　know　one　way　or　the　other。　　If　he　did　not　come　before　twelve；　it　was　all　right：　all　the　hands　were　paid　by　the　hour　and　were　therefore　entitled　to　an　hour's　notice。

Easton　and　Harlow　were　working　together　on　the　staircase；　finishing　the　doors　and　other　woodwork　with　white　enamel。　　The　men　had　not　been　allowed　to　spend　the　time　necessary　to　prepare　this　work　in　a　proper　manner；　it　had　not　been　rubbed　down　smooth　or　properly　filled　up；　and　it　had　not　had　a　sufficient　number　of　coats　of　paint　to　make　it　solid　white。　　Now　that　the　glossy　enamel　was　put　on；　the　work　looked　rather　rough　and　shady。

‘It　ain't　'arf　all　right；　ain't　it？'　remarked　Harlow；　sarcastically；　indicating　the　door　he　had　just　finished。

Easton　laughed：　'I　can't　understand　how　people　pass　such　work；'　he　said。

‘Old　Sweater　did　make　some　remark　about　it　the　other　day；'　replied　Harlow；　‘and　I　heard　Misery　tell　'im　it　was　impossible　to　make　a　perfect　job　of　such　old　doors。'

‘I　believe　that　man's　the　biggest　liar　Gord　ever　made；'　said　Easton；　an　opinion　in　which　Harlow　entirely　concurred。

‘I　wonder　what　the　time　is？'　said　the　latter　after　a　pause。

‘I　don't　know　exactly；'　replied　Easton；　'but　it　can't　be　far　off　twelve。'

‘'E　don't　seem　to　be　comin'；　does　'e？'　Harlow　continued。

‘No：　and　I　shouldn't　be　surprised　if　'e　didn't　turn　up　at　all；　now。　P'raps　'e　don't　mean　to　stop　nobody　today　after　all。'

They　spoke　in　hushed　tones　and　glanced　cautiously　about　them　fearful　of　being　heard　or　observed。

‘This　is　a　bloody　life；　ain't　it？'　Harlow　said；　bitterly。　　‘Workin'　our　guts　out　like　a　lot　of　slaves　for　the　benefit　of　other　people；　and　then　as　soon　as　they've　done　with　you；　you're　chucked　aside　like　a　dirty　rag。'

‘Yes：　and　I　begin　to　think　that　a　great　deal　of　what　Owen　says　is　true。　　But　for　my　part　I　can't　see　'Ow　it's　ever　goin'　to　be　altered；　can　you？'

Blowed　if　I　know；　mate。　　But　whether　it　can　be　altered　or　not；　there's　one　thing　very　certain；　it　won't　be　done　in　our　time。'

Neither　of　them　seemed　to　think　that　if　the　‘alteration'　they　spoke　of　were　to　be　accomplished　at　all　they　themselves　would　have　to　help　to　bring　it　about。

‘I　wonder　what　they're　doin'　about　the　venetian　blinds？'　said　Easton。　‘Is　there　anyone　doin'　em　yet？'

‘I　don't　know；　ain't　'eard　nothing　about　'em　since　the　boy　took　'em　to　the　shop。'

There　was　quite　a　mystery　about　these　blinds。　　About　a　month　ago　they　were　taken　to　the　paint…shop　down　at　the　yard　to　be　repainted　and　re…harnessed；　and　since　then　nothing　had　been　heard　of　them　by　the　men　working　at　the　‘Cave'。

‘P'hap's　a　couple　of　us　will　be　sent　there　to　do　'em　next　week；'　remarked　Harlow。

‘P'hap's　so。　　Most　likely　they'll　'ave　to　be　done　in　a　bloody　'urry　at　the　last　minute。'

Presently　Harlow　…　who　was　very　anxious　to　know　what　time　it　was　…　went　downstairs　to　ask　Slyme。　　It　was　twenty　minutes　to　twelve。

From　the　window　of　the　room　where　Slyme　was　papering；　one　could　see　into　the　front　garden。　Harlow　paused　a　moment　to　watch　Bundy　and　the　labourers；　who　were　still　working　in　the　trenches　at　the　drains；　and　as　he　looked　out　he　saw　Hunter　approaching　the　house。　　Harlow　drew　back　hastily　and　returned　to　his　work；　and　as　he　went　he　passed　the　word　to　the　other　men；　warning　them　of　the　approach　of　Misery。

Hunter　entered　ii　his　usual　manner　and；　after　crawling　quietly　about　the　house　for　about　ten　minutes；　he　went　into　the　drawing　room。

‘I　see　you're　putting　the　finishing　touches　on　at　last；'　he　said。

‘Yes；'　replied　Owen。　　‘I've　only　got　this　bit　of　outlining　to　do　now。'

‘Ah；　well；　it　looks　very　nice；　of　course；'　said　Misery　in　a　voice　of　mourning；　‘but　we've　lost　money　over　it。　　It's　taken　you　a　week　longer　to　do　than　we　allowed　for；　you　said　three　weeks　and　it's　taken　you　a　month；　and　we　only　allowed　for　fifteen　books　of　gold；　but　you've　been　and　used　twenty…three。'

‘You　can　hardly　blame　me　for　that；　you　know；'　answered　Owen。　　‘I　could　have　got　it　done　in　the　three　weeks；　but　Mr　Rushton　told　me　not　to　hurry　for　the　sake　of　a　day　or　two；　because　he　wanted　a　good　job。　　He　said　he　would　rather　lose　a　little　over　it　than　spoil　it；　and　as　for　the　extra　gold；　that　was　also　his　order。'

‘Well；　I　suppose　it　can't　be　helped；'　whined　Misery。　　‘Anyhow；　I'm　very　glad　it's　done；　because　this　kind　of　work　don't　pay。　　We'll　'ave　you　back　on　the　brush　on　Monday　morning；　we　want　to　get　outside　done　next　week　if　it　keeps　fine。'

The　‘brush'　alluded　to　by　Nimrod　was　the　large　‘pound'　brush　used　in　ordinary　painting。

Misery　now　began　wandering　about　the　house；　in　and　out　of　the　rooms；　sometimes　standing　for　several　minutes　silently　watching　the　hands　as　they　worked。　As　he　watched　them　the　men　became　nervous　and　awkward；　each　one　dreading　that　he　might　be　one　of　those　who　were　to　be　paid　off　at　one　o'clock。

At　about　five　minutes　to　twelve　Hunter　went　down　to　the　paint…shop　…　the　scullery　…　where　Crass　was　mixing　some　colour；　and　getting　ready　some　‘empties'　to　be　taken　to　the　yard。

‘I　suppose　the　br's　gone　to　ask　Crass　which　of　us　is　the　least　use；'　whispered　Harlow　to　Easton。

‘I　wouldn't　be　surprised　if　it　was　you　and　me；　for　two；'　replied　the　latter　in　the　same　tone。　　‘You　can't　trust　Crass　you　know；　for　all　'e　seems　so　friendly　to　our　faces。　　You　never　know　what　'e　ses　behind　our　backs。'

‘You　may　be　sure　it　won't　be　Sawkins　or　any　of　the　other　light…weights；　because　Nimrod　won't　want　to　pay　us　sixpence　ha'penny　for　painting　guttering　and　rainpipes　when　THEY　can　do　it　near　enough　for　fourpence　ha'penny　and　fivepence。　　They　won't　be　able　to　do　the　sashes；　though；　will　they？'

‘I　don't　know　so　much　about　that；'　replied　Easton。　　‘Anything　seems　to　be　good　enough　for　Hunter。'

‘Look　out！　　Ere　'e　comes！'　said　Harlow；　and　they　both　relapsed　into　silence　and　busied　themselves　with　their　work。　　Misery　stood　watching　them　for　some　time　without　speaking；　and　then　went　out　of　the　house。　They　crept　cautiously　to　the　window　of　a　room　that　overlooked　the　garden　and；　peeping　furtively　out；　they　saw　him　standing　on　the　brink　of　one　of　the　trenches；　moodily　watching　Bundy　and　his　mates　as　they　toiled　at　the　drains。　　Then；　to　their　surprise　and　relief；　he　turned　and　went　out　of　the　gate！　　They　just　caught　sight　of　one　of　the　wheels　of　his　bicycle　as　he　rode　away。

The　slaughter　was　evidently　to　be　put　off　until　next　week！　　It　seemed　too　good　to　be　true。

‘P'hap's　'e's　left　a　message　for　some　of　us　with　Crass？'　suggested　Easton。　　‘I　don't　think　it's　likely；　but　it's　just　possible。'

‘Well；　I'm　goin'　down　to　ask　'im；'　said　Harlow；　desperately。　　‘We　may　as　well　know　the　worst　at　once。'

He　returned　in　a　few　minutes　with　the　information　that　Hunter　had　decided　not　to　stop　anyone　that　day　because　he　wanted　to　get　the　outside　finished　during　the　next　week；　if　possible。

The　hands　received　this　intelligence　with　mixed　feelings；　because　although　it　left　them　safe　for　the　present；　it　meant　that　nearly　everybody　would　certainly　be　stopped　next　Saturday；　if　not　before；　whereas　if　a　few　had　been　sacked　today　it　would　have　made　it　all　the　better　for　the　rest。　　Still；　this　aspect　of　the　business　did　not　greatly　interfere　with　the　relief　that　they　all　felt　at　knowing　that　the　immediate　danger　was　over；　and　the　fact　that　it　was　Saturday　…　pay…day　…　also　served　to　revive　their　drooping　spirits。　　They　all　felt　pretty　certain　that　Misery　would　return　no　more　that　day；　and　presently　Harlow　began　to　sing　the　old　favourite。　　‘Work！　for　the　night　is　coming！'　the　refrain　of　which　was　soon　taken　up　by　nearly　everyone　in　the　house：

　　　　　　　　‘Work！　for　the　night　is　coming；　　　　　　　　　Work　in　the　morning　hours。　　　　　　　　　Work！　for　the　night　is　coming；　　　　　　　　　Work　'mid　springing　flowers。

　　　　　　　　‘Work　while　the　dew　is　sparkling；　　　　　　　　　Work　in　the　noonday　sun！　　　　　　　　　Work！　for　the　night　is　coming　　　　　　　　　When　man's　work　is　done！'

When　this　hymn　was　finished；　someone　else；　imitating　the　whine　of　a　street…singer；　started；　‘Oh；　where　is　my　wandering　boy　tonight？'　and　then　Harlow　…　who　by　some　strange　chance　had　a　penny　…　took　it　out　of　his　pocket　and　dropped　it　on　the　floor；　the　ringing　of　the　coin　being　greeted　with　shouts　of　‘Thank　you；　kind　lady；'　from　several　of　the　singers。　　This　little　action　of　Harlow's　was　the　means　of　bringing　a　most　extraordinary　circumstance　to　light。　　Although　it　was　Saturday　morning；　several　of　the　others　had　pennies　or　half…pence！　and　at　the　conclusion　of　each　verse　they　all　followed　Harlow's　example　and　the　house　resounded　with　the　ringing　of　falling　coins；　cries　of　‘Thank　you；　kind　lady；'　‘Thank　you；　sir；'　and　‘Gord　bless　you；'　mingled　with　shouts　of　laughter。

‘My　wandering　boy'　was　followed　by　a　choice　selection　of　choruses　of　well…known　music…hall　songs；　including　‘Goodbye；　my　Bluebell'；　‘The　Honeysuckle　and　the　Bee'；　‘I've　got　'em！'　and　‘The　Church　Parade'；　the　whole　being　tastefully　varied　and　interspersed　with　howls；　shrieks；　curses；　catcalls；　and　downward　explosions　of　flatulence。

In　the　midst　of　the　uproar　Crass　came　upstairs。

‘'Ere！'　he　shouted。　　‘For　Christ's　sake　make　less　row！　　Suppose　Nimrod　was　to　come　back！'

‘Oh；　he　ain't　comin'　any　more　today；'　said　Harlow；　recklessly。

‘Besides；　what　if　'e　does　come？'　cried　Easton。　　‘Oo　cares　for　'im？'

‘Well；　we　never　know；　and　for　that　matter　Rushton　or　Sweater　might　come　at　any　minit。'

With　this；　Crass　went　muttering　back　to　the　scullery；　and　the　men　relapsed　into　their　usual　silence。

At　ten　minutes　to　one　they　all　ceased　work；　put　away　their　colours　and　locked　up　the　house。　　There　were　a　number　of　‘empties'　to　be　taken　away　and　left　at　the　yard　on　their　way　to　the　office；　these　Crass　divided　amongst　the　others　…　carrying　nothing　himself　…　and　then　they　all　set　out　for　the　office　to　get　their　money；　cracking　jokes　as　they　went　along。　　Harlow　and　Easton　enlivened　the　journey　by　coughing　significantly　whenever　they　met　a　young　woman；　and　audibly　making　some　complimentary　remark　about　her　personal　appearance。　　If　the　girl　smiled；　each　of　them　eagerly　claimed　to　have　‘seen　her　first'；　but　if　she　appeared　offended　or　‘stuck　up'；　they　suggested　that　she　was　cross…cut　or　that　she　had　been　eating　vinegar　with　a　fork。　　Now　and　then　they　kissed　their　hands　affectionately　to　servant…girls　whom　they　saw　looking　out　of　windows。　　Some　of　these　girls　laughed；　others　looked　indignant；　but　whichever　way　they　took　it　was　equally　amusing　to　Crass　and　the　rest；　who　were　like　a　crowd　of　boys　just　let　out　of　school。

It　will　be　remembered　that　there　was　a　back　door　to　Rushton's　office；　in　this　door　was　a　small　sliding　panel　or　trap…door　with　a　little　shelf　at　the　bottom。　　The　men　stood　in　the　road　on　the　pavement　outside　the　closed　door；　their　money　being　passed　out　to　them　through　the　sliding　panel。　　As　there　was　no　shelter；　when　it　rained　they　occasionally　got　wet　through　while　waiting　to　be　paid。　　With　some　firms　it　is　customary　to　call　out　the　names　of　the　men　and　pay　them　in　order　of　seniority　or　ability；　but　there　was　no　such　system　here；　the　man　who　got　to　the　aperture　first　was　paid　first；　and　so　on。　　The　result　was　that　there　was　always　a　sort　of　miniature　‘Battle　of　Life'；　the　men　pushing　and　struggling　against　e