the ragged trousered philanthropists-第51章

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gether。

Slyme　hurried　away；　it　had　turned　very　cold；　and　he　was　anxious　to　get　home。　　As　he　approached　the　place　where　the　trams　stopped　to　take　up　passengers　and　saw　that　there　was　a　tram　in　sight　he　resolved　to　wait　for　it　and　ride　home：　but　when　the　tram　arrived　and　there　were　only　one　or　two　seats　vacant；　and　although　he　did　his　best　to　secure　one　of　these　he　was　unsuccessful；　and　after　a　moment's　hesitation　he　decided　that　it　would　be　quicker　to　walk　than　to　wait　for　the　next　one。　　He　accordingly　resumed　his　journey；　but　he　had　not　gone　very　far　when　he　saw　a　small　crowd　of　people　on　the　pavement　on　the　other　side　of　the　road　outside　an　unoccupied　house；　and　although　he　was　in　a　hurry　to　get　home　he　crossed　over　to　see　what　was　the　matter。　　There　were　about　twenty　people　standing　there；　and　in　the　centre　close　to　the　railing　there　were　three　or　four　women　whom　Slyme　could　not　see　although　he　could　hear　their　voices。

‘What's　up？'　he　inquired　of　a　man　on　the　edge　of　the　crowd。

‘Oh；　nothing　much；'　returned　the　other。　　‘Some　young　woman；　she's　either　ill；　come　over　faint；　or　something　…　or　else　she's　had　a　drop　too　much。'

‘Quite　a　respectable…looking　young　party；　too；'　said　another　man。

Several　young　fellows　in　the　crowd　were　amusing　themselves　by　making　suggestive　jokes　about　the　young　woman　and　causing　some　laughter　by　the　expressions　of　mock　sympathy。

‘Doesn't　anyone　know　who　she　is？'　said　the　second　man　who　had　spoken　in　reply　to　Slyme's　inquiry。

‘No；'　said　a　woman　who　was　standing　a　little　nearer　the　middle　of　the　crowd。　　‘And　she　won't　say　where　she　lives。'

‘She'll　be　all　right　now　she's　had　that　glass　of　soda；'　said　another　man；　elbowing　his　way　out　of　the　crowd。　　As　this　individual　came　out；　Slyme　managed　to　work　himself　a　little　further　into　the　group　of　people；　and　he　uttered　an　involuntary　cry　of　astonishment　as　he　caught　sight　of　Ruth；　very　pale；　and　looking　very　ill；　as　she　stood　clasping　one　of　the　railings　with　her　left　hand　and　holding　the　packages　of　groceries　in　the　other。　　She　had　by　this　time　recovered　sufficiently　to　feel　overwhelmed　with　shame　and　confusion　before　the　crowd　of　strangers　who　hemmed　her　in　on　every　side；　and　some　of　whom　she　could　hear　laughing　and　joking　about　her。　　It　was　therefore　with　a　sensation　of　intense　relief　and　gratitude　that　she　saw　Slyme's　familiar　face　and　heard　his　friendly　voice　as　he　forced　his　way　through　to　her　side。

‘I　can　walk　home　all　right　now；'　she　stammered　in　reply　to　his　anxious　questioning。　　‘If　you　wouldn't　mind　carrying　some　of　these　things　for　me。'

He　insisted　on　taking　all　the　parcels；　and　the　crowd；　having　jumped　to　the　conclusion　that　he　was　the　young　woman's　husband　began　to　dwindle　away；　one　of　the　jokers　remarking　‘It's　all　over！'　in　a　loud　voice　as　he　took　himself　off。

It　was　only　about　seven　minutes'　walk　home　from　there；　and　as　the　streets　along　which　they　had　to　pass　were　not　very　brilliantly　lighted；　Ruth　was　able　to　lean　on　Slyme's　arm　most　of　the　way。　　When　they　arrived　home；　after　she　had　removed　her　hat；　he　made　her　sit　down　in　the　armchair　by　the　fire；　which　was　burning　brightly；　and　the　kettle　was　singing　on　the　hob；　for　she　had　banked　up　the　fire　with　cinders　and　small　coal　before　she　went　out。

The　baby　was　still　asleep　in　the　cradle；　but　his　slumbers　had　evidently　not　been　of　the　most　restful　kind；　for　he　had　kicked　all　the　bedclothes　off　him　and　was　lying　all　uncovered。　　Ruth　obeyed　passively　when　Slyme　told　her　to　sit　down；　and；　lying　back　languidly　in　the　armchair；　she　watched　him　through　half…closed　eyes　and　with　a　slight　flush　on　her　face　as　he　deftly　covered　the　sleeping　child　with　the　bedclothes　and　settled　him　more　comfortably　in　the　cot。

Slyme　now　turned　his　attention　to　the　fire；　and　as　he　placed　the　kettle　upon　it　he　remarked：　‘As　soon　as　the　water　boils　I'll　make　you　some　strong　tea。'

During　their　walk　home　she　had　acquainted　Slyme　with　the　cause　of　her　being　in　the　condition　in　which　he　found　her　in　the　street；　and　as　she　reclined　in　the　armchair；　drowsily　watching　him；　she　wondered　what　would　have　happened　to　her　if　he　had　not　passed　by　when　he　did。

‘Are　you　feeling　better？'　he　asked；　looking　down　at　her。

‘Yes；　thanks。　I　feel　quite　well　now；　but　I'm　afraid　I've　given　you　a　lot　of　trouble。'

‘No；　you　haven't。　　Nothing　I　can　do　for　you　is　a　trouble　to　me。　　But　don't　you　think　you'd　better　take　your　jacket　off？　　Here；　let　me　help　you。'

It　took　a　very　long　time　to　get　this　jacket　off；　because　whilst　he　was　helping　her；　Slyme　kissed　her　repeatedly　and　passionately　as　she　lay　limp　and　unresisting　in　his　arms。



Chapter　25

The　Oblong


During　the　following　week　the　work　at　‘The　Cave'　progressed　rapidly　towards　completion；　although；　the　hours　of　daylight　being　so　few；　the　men　worked　only　from　8　A。M。　till　4　P。M。　and　they　had　their　breakfasts　before　they　came。　　This　made　40　hours　a　week；　so　that　those　who　were　paid　sevenpence　an　hour　earned　？。3。4。　　Those　who　got　sixpence…　halfpenny　drew　？。1。8。　　Those　whose　wages　were　fivepence　an　hour　were　paid　the　princely　sum　of　16/8d。　for　their　week's　hard　labour；　and　those　whose　rate　was　fourpence…halfpenny　‘picked　up'　15/…。

And　yet　there　are　people　who　have　the　insolence　to　say　that　Drink　is　the　cause　of　poverty。

And　many　of　the　persons　who　say　this；　spend　more　money　than　that　on　drink　themselves　…　every　day　of　their　useless　lives。

By　Tuesday　night　all　the　inside　was　finished　with　the　exception　of　the　kitchen　and　scullery。　　The　painting　of　the　kitchen　had　been　delayed　owing　to　the　non…arrival　of　the　new　cooking　range；　and　the　scullery　was　still　used　as　the　paint　shop。　　The　outside　work　was　also　nearly　finished：　all　the　first　coating　was　done　and　the　second　coating　was　being　proceeded　with。　　According　to　the　specification；　all　the　outside　woodwork　was　supposed　to　have　three　coats；　and　the　guttering；　rain…pipes　and　other　ironwork　two　coats；　but　Crass　and　Hunter　had　arranged　to　make　two　coats　do　for　most　of　the　windows　and　woodwork；　and　all　the　ironwork　was　to　be　made　to　do　with　one　coat　only。　　The　windows　were　painted　in　two　colours：　the　sashes　dark　green　and　the　frames　white。　　All　the　rest　…　gables；　doors；　railings；　guttering；　etc。　…　was　dark　green；　and　all　the　dark　green　paint　was　made　with　boiled　linseed　oil　and　varnish；　no　turpentine　being　allowed　to　be　used　on　this　part　of　the　work。

‘This　is　some　bloody　fine　stuff　to　'ave　to　use；　ain't　it？'　remarked　Harlow　to　Philpot　on　Wednesday　morning。　　‘It's　more　like　a　lot　of　treacle　than　anything　else。'

‘Yes：　and　it　won't　arf　blister　next　summer　when　it　gets　a　bit　of　sun　on　it；'　replied　Philpot　with　a　grin。

‘I　suppose　they're　afraid　that　if　they　was　to　put　a　little　turps　in；　it　wouldn't　bear　out；　and　they'd　'ave　to　give　it　another　coat。'

‘You　can　bet　yer　life　that's　the　reason；'　said　Philpot。　　‘But　all　the　same　I　mean　to　pinch　a　drop　to　put　in　mine　as　soon　as　Crass　is　gorn。'

‘Gorn　where？'

‘Why；　didn't　you　know？　there's　another　funeral　on　today？　　Didn't　you　see　that　corfin　plate　what　Owen　was　writing　in　the　drorin'…room　last　Saturday　morning？'

‘No；　I　wasn't　'ere。　　Don't　you　remember　I　was　sent　away　to　do　a　ceilin'　and　a　bit　of　painting　over　at　Windley？'

‘Oh；　of　course；　I　forgot；'　exclaimed　Philpot。

‘I　reckon　Crass　and　Slyme　must　be　making　a　small　fortune　out　of　all　these　funerals；'　said　Harlow。　　‘This　makes　the　fourth　in　the　last　fortnight。　　What　is　it　they　gets　for　'em？'

‘A　shillin'　for　taking'　'ome　the　corfin　and　liftin'　in　the　corpse；　and　four　bob　for　the　funeral　…　five　bob　altogether。'

‘That's　a　bit　of　all　right；　ain't　it？'　said　Harlow。　　‘A　couple　of　them　in　a　week　besides　your　week's　wages；　eh？　　Five　bob　for　two　or　three　hours　work！'

‘Yes；　the　money's　all　right；　mate；　but　they're　welcome　to　it　for　my　part　。　I　don't　want　to　go　messin'　about　with　no　corpses；'　replied　Philpot　with　a　shudder。

‘Who　is　this　last　party　what's　dead？'　asked　Harlow　after　a　pause。

‘It's　a　parson　what　used　to　belong　to　the　〃Shining　Light〃　Chapel。　He'd　been　abroad　for　'is　'ollerdays　…　to　Monte　Carlo。　　It　seems　'e　was　ill　before　'e　went　away；　but　the　change　did　'im　a　lot　of　good；　in　fact；　'e　was　quite　recovered；　and　'e　was　coming　back　again。　　But　while　'e　was　standin'　on　the　platform　at　Monte　Carlo　Station　waitin'　for　the　train；　a　porter　runned　into　'im　with　a　barrer　load　o'　luggage；　and　'e　blowed　up。'

‘Blowed　up？'

‘Yes；'　repeated　Philpot。　　‘Blowed　up！　　Busted！　　Exploded！　　All　into　pieces。　　But　they　swep'　'em　all　up　and　put　it　in　a　corfin　and　it's　to　be　planted　this　afternoon。'

Harlow　maintained　an　awestruck　silence；　and　Philpot　continued：

‘I　had　a　drink　the　other　night　with　a　butcher　bloke　what　used　to　serve　this　parson　with　meat；　and　we　was　talkin'　about　what　a　strange　sort　of　death　it　was；　but　'e　said　'e　wasn't　at　all　surprised　to　'ear　of　it；　the　only　thing　as　'e　wondered　at　was　that　the　man　didn't　blow　up　long　ago；　considerin'　the　amount　of　grub　as　'e　used　to　make　away　with。　　He　ses　the　quantities　of　stuff　as　'e's　took　there　and　seen　other　tradesmen　take　was　something　chronic。　　Tons　of　it！'

‘What　was　the　parson's　name？'　asked　Harlow。

‘Belcher。　　You　must　'ave　noticed　'im　about　the　town。　　A　very　fat　chap；'　replied　Philpot。　　‘I'm　sorry　you　wasn't　'ere　on　Saturday　to　see　the　corfin　plate。　　Frank　called　me　in　to　see　the　wordin'　when　'e'd　finished　it。　　It　had　on：　〃Jonydab　Belcher。　　Born　January　1st；　1849。　Ascended；　December　8th；　19〃'

‘Oh；　I　know　the　bloke　now！'　cried　Harlow。　　‘I　remember　my　youngsters　bringin'　'ome　a　subscription　list　what　they'd　got　up　at　the　Sunday　School　to　send　'im　away　for　a　'ollerday　because　'e　was　ill；　and　I　gave　'em　a　penny　each　to　put　on　their　cards　because　I　didn't　want　'em　to　feel　mean　before　the　other　young　'uns。'

‘Yes；　it's　the　same　party。　　Two　or　three　young　'uns　asked　me　to　give　'em　something　to　put　on　at　the　time。　　And　I　see　they've　got　another　subscription　list　on　now。　　I　met　one　of　Newman's　children　yesterday　and　she　showed　it　to　me。　　It's　for　an　entertainment　and　a　Christmas　Tree　for　all　the　children　what　goes　to　the　Sunday　School；　so　I　didn't　mind　giving　just　a　trifle　for　anything　like　that。'　。。。

‘Seems　to　be　gettin'　colder；　don't　it？'

‘It's　enough　to　freeze　the　ears　orf　a　brass　monkey！'　remarked　Easton　as　he　descended　from　a　ladder　close　by　and；　placing　his　pot　of　paint　on　the　pound；　began　to　try　to　warm　his　hands　by　rubbing　and　beating　them　together。

He　was　trembling；　and　his　teeth　were　chattering　with　cold。

‘I　could　just　do　with　a　nice　pint　of　beer；　now；'　he　said　as　he　stamped　his　feet　on　the　pound。

‘That's　just　what　I　was　thinkin'；'　said　Philpot；　wistfully；　'and　what's　more；　I　mean　to　'ave　one；　too；　at　dinner…time。　　I　shall　nip　down　to　the　〃Cricketers〃。　　Even　if　I　don't　get　back　till　a　few　minutes　after　one；　it　won't　matter；　because　Crass　and　Nimrod　will　be　gorn　to　the　funeral。'

‘Will　you　bring　me　a　pint　back　with　you；　in　a　bottle？'　asked　Easton。

‘Yes；　certainly；'　said　Philpot。

Harlow　said　nothing。　　He　also　would　have　liked　a　pint　of　beer；　but；　as　was　usual　with　him；　he　had　not　the　necessary　cash。　　Having　restored　the　circulation　to　a　certain　extent；　they　now　resumed　their　work；　and　only　just　in　time；　for　a　few　minutes　afterwards　they　observed　Misery　peeping　round　the　corner　of　the　house　at　them　and　they