the ragged trousered philanthropists-第45章
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that there was always a sort of miniature ‘Battle of Life'； the men pushing and struggling against each other as if their lives depended upon their being paid by a certain time。
On the ledge of the little window through which their money was passed there was always a Hospital collection…box。 Every man put either a penny or twopence into this box。 Of course； it was not compulsory to do so； but they all did； because they felt that any man who omitted to contribute might be ‘marked'。 They did not all agree with contributing to the Hospital； for several reasons。 They knew that the doctors at the Hospital made a practice of using the free patients to make experiments upon； and they also knew that the so…called ‘free' patients who contribute so very largely directly to the maintenance of such institutions； get scant consideration when they apply for the ‘free' treatment； and are plainly given to understand that they are receiving ‘charity'。 Some of the men thought that； considering the extent to which they contributed； they should be entitled to attention as a right。
After receiving their wages； Crass； Easton； Bundy； Philpot； Harlow and a few others adjourned to the Cricketers for a drink。 Owen went away alone； and Slyme also went on by himself。 There was no use waiting for Easton to come out of the public house； because there was no knowing how long he would be； he might stay half an hour or two hours。
On his way home； in accordance with his usual custom； Slyme called at the Post Office to put some of his wages in the bank。 Like most other ‘Christians'； he believed in taking thought for the morrow； what he should eat and drink and wherewithal he was to be clothed。 He thought it wise to layup for himself as much treasure upon earth as possible。 The fact that Jesus said that His disciples were not to do these things made no more difference to Slyme's conduct than it does to the conduct of any other ‘Christian'。 They are all agreed that when Jesus said this He meant something else： and all the other inconvenient things that Jesus said are disposed of in the same way。 For instance； these ‘disciples' assure us that when Jesus said； ‘Resist not evil'； ‘If a man smite thee upon he right cheek turn unto him also the left'； He really meant 'Turn on to him a Maxim gun； disembowel him with a bayonet or batter in his skull with the butt end of a rifle！' When He said； ‘If one take thy coat； give him thy cloak also；' the ‘Christians' say that what He really meant was： ‘If one take thy coat； give him six months' hard labour。 A few of the followers of Jesus admit that He really did mean just what He said； but they say that the world would never be able to go on if they followed out His teachings！ That is true。 It is probably the effect that Jesus intended His teachings to produce。 It is altogether improbable that He wished the world to continue along its present lines。 But； if these pretended followers really think … as they say that they do … that the teachings of Jesus are ridiculous and impracticable； why continue the hypocritical farce of calling themselves ‘Christians' when they don't really believe in or follow Him at all？
As Jesus himself pointed out； there's no sense in calling Him ‘Lord； Lord' when they do not the things that He said。
This banking transaction finished； Slyme resumed his homeward way； stopping only to purchase some sweets at a confectioner's。 He spent a whole sixpence at once in this shop on a glass jar of sweets for the baby。
Ruth was not surprised when she saw him come in alone； it was the usual thing since Easton had become so friendly with Crass。
She made no reference to his absence； but Slyme noticed with secret chagrin that she was annoyed and disappointed。 She was just finishing scrubbing the kitchen floor and little Freddie was sitting up in a baby's high chair that had a little shelf or table fixed in front of it。 To keep him amused while she did her work； Ruth had given him a piece of bread and raspberry jam； which the child had rubbed all over his face and into his scalp； evidently being under the impression that it was something for the improvement of the complexion； or a cure for baldness。 He now looked as if he had been in a fight or a railway accident。 The child hailed the arrival of Slyme with enthusiasm； being so overcome with emotion that he began to shed tears； and was only pacified when the man gave him the jar of sweets and took him out of the chair。
Slyme's presence in the house had not proved so irksome as Easton and Ruth had dreaded it would be。 Indeed； at first； he made a point of retiring to his own room after tea every evening； until they invited him to stay downstairs in the kitchen。 Nearly every Wednesday and Saturday he went to a meeting； or an open…air preaching； when the weather permitted； for he was one of a little zealous band of people connected with the Shining Light Chapel who carried on the ‘open…air' work all the year round。 After a while； the Eastons not only became reconciled to his presence in the house； but were even glad of it。 Ruth especially would often have been very lonely if he had not been there； for it had lately become Easton's custom to spend a few evenings every week with Crass at the Cricketers。
When at home Slyme passed his time playing a mandolin or making fretwork photo frames。 Ruth had the baby's photograph taken a few weeks after Slyme came； and the frame he made for it was now one of the ornaments of the sitting…room。 The instinctive； unreasoning aversion she had at first felt for him had passed away。 In a quiet； unobtrusive manner he did her so many little services that she found it impossible to dislike him。 At first； she used。to address him as ‘Mr' but after a time she fell naturally into Easton's practice of calling him by his first name。
As for the baby； he made no secret of his affection for the lodger； who nursed and played with him for hours at a stretch。
‘I'll serve your dinner now； Alf；' said Ruth when she had finished scrubbing the floor； ‘but I'll wait for mine for a little while。 Will may come'
‘I'm in no hurry；' replied Slyme。 ‘I'll go and have a wash； he may be here then。'
As he spoke； Slyme … who had been sitting by the fire nursing the baby … who was trying to swallow the jar of sweets … put the child back into the high chair； giving him one of the sticks of sweet out of the jar to keep him quiet； and went upstairs to his own room。 He came down again in about a quarter of an hour； and Ruth proceeded to serve his dinner； for Easton was still absent。
‘If I was you； I wouldn't wait for Will；' said Slyme； ‘he may not come for another hour or two。 It's after two o'clock now； and I'm sure you must be hungry。'
‘I suppose I may as well；' replied Ruth； hesitatingly。 ‘He'll most likely get some bread and cheese at the 〃Cricketers〃； same as he did last Saturday。'
‘Almost sure to；' responded Slyme。
The baby had had his face washed while Slyme was upstairs。 Directly he saw his mother eating he threw away the sugar…stick and began to cry； holding out his arms to her。 She had to take him on her lap whilst she ate her dinner； and feed him with pieces from her plate。
Slyme talked all the time； principally about the child。 He was very fond of children； he said； and always got on well with them； but he had really never known such an intelligent child … for his age … as Freddie。 His fellow…workmen would have been astonished had they been present to hear him talking about the shape of the baby's head。 They would have been astonished at the amount of knowledge he appeared to possess of the science of Phrenology。 Ruth； at any rate； thought he was very clever。
After a time the child began to grow fretful and refused to eat； when his mother gave him a fresh piece of sugar…stick out of the jar he threw it peevishly on the floor and began to whimper； rubbing his face against his mother's bosom and pulling at her dress with his hands。 When Slyme first came Ruth had made a practice of withdrawing from the room if he happened to be present when she wanted to nurse the child； but lately she had been less sensitive。 She was sitting with her back to the window and she partly covered the baby's face with a light shawl that she wore。 By the time they finished dinner the child had dozed off to sleep。 Slyme got up from his chair and stood with his back to the fire； looking down at them； presently he spoke； referring； of course； to the baby：
‘He's very like you； isn't he？'
‘Yes；' replied Ruth。 ‘Everyone says he takes after me。'
Slyme moved a little closer； bending down to look at the slumbering infant。
‘You know； at first I thought he was a girl；' he continued after a pause。 ‘He seems almost too pretty for a boy； doesn't he？'
Ruth smiled。 ‘People always take him for a girl at first；' she said。 ‘Yesterday I took him with me to the Monopole Stores to buy some things； and the manager would hardly believe it wasn't a girl。'
The man reached out his hand and stroked the baby's face。
Although Slyme's behaviour had hitherto always been very correct； yet there was occasionally an indefinable something in his manner when they were alone that made Ruth feel conscious and embarrassed。 Now； as she glanced up at him and saw the expression on his face she crimsoned with confusion and hastily lowered her eyes without replying to his last remark。 He did not speak again either； and they remained for several minutes in silence； as if spellbound； Ruth oppressed with instinctive dread； and Slyme scarcely less agitated； his face flushed and his heart beating wildly。 He trembled as he stood over her； hesitating and afraid。
And then the silence was suddenly broken by the creaking and clanging of the front gate； heralding the tardy coming of Easton。 Slyme went out into the scullery and； taking down the blacking brushes from the shelf； began cleaning his boots。
It was plain from Easton's appearance and manner that he had been drinking； but Ruth did not reproach him in any way； on the contrary； she seemed almost feverishly anxious to attend to his comfort。
When Slyme finished cleaning his boots he went upstairs to his room； receiving a careless greeting from Easton as he passed through the kitchen。 He felt nervous and apprehensive that Ruth might say something to Easton； and was not quite able to reassure himself with the reflection that； after all； there was nothing to tell。 As for Ruth； she had to postpone the execution of her hastily formed resolution to tell her husband of Slyme's strange behaviour； for Easton fell asleep in his chair before he had finished his dinner； and she had some difficulty in waking him sufficiently to persuade him to go upstairs to bed； where he remained until tea…time。 Probably he would not have come down even then if it had not been for the fact that he had made an appointment to meet Crass at the Cricketers。
Whilst Easton was asleep； Slyme had been downstairs in the kitchen； making a fretwork frame。 He played with Freddie while Ruth prepared the tea； and he appeared to her to be so unconscious of having done anything unusual that she began to think that she must have been mistaken in imagining that he had intended anything wrong。
After tea； Slyme put on his
