the ragged trousered philanthropists-第53章

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　But　none　of　these　considerations　applies　to　workmen。　If　they　work　a　man　to　death　they　can　get　another　for　nothing　at　the　corner　of　the　next　street。　　They　don't　have　to　buy　him；　all　they　have　to　do　is　to　give　him　enough　money　to　provide　him　with　food　and　clothing　…　of　a　kind　…　while　he　is　working　for　them。　　If　they　only　make　him　ill；　they　will　not　have　to　feed　him　or　provide　him　with　medical　care　while　he　is　laid　up。　　He　will　either　go　without　these　things　or　pay　for　them　himself。　　At　the　same　time　it　must　be　admitted　that　the　workman　scores　over　both　the　horse　and　the　slave；　inasmuch　as　he　enjoys　the　priceless　blessing　of　Freedom。　　If　he　does　not　like　the　hirer's　conditions　he　need　not　accept　them。　　He　can　refuse　to　work；　and　he　can　go　and　starve。　　There　are　no　ropes　on　him。　　He　is　a　Free　man。　　He　is　the　Heir　of　all　the　Ages。　　He　enjoys　perfect　Liberty。　　He　has　the　right　to　choose　freely　which　he　will　do　…　Submit　or　Starve。　Eat　dirt　or　eat　nothing。

The　wind　blew　colder　and　colder。　　The　sky；　which　at　first　had　shown　small　patches　of　blue　through　rifts　in　the　masses　of　clouds；　had　now　become　uniformly　grey。　　There　was　every　indication　of　an　impending　fall　of　snow。

The　men　perceived　this　with　conflicting　feelings。　　If　it　did　commence　to　snow；　they　would　not　be　able　to　continue　this　work；　and　therefore　they　found　themselves　involuntarily　wishing　that　it　would　snow；　or　rain；　or　hail；　or　anything　that　would　stop　the　work。　　But　on　the　other　hand；　if　the　weather　prevented　them　getting　on　with　the　outside；　some　of　them　would　have　to　‘stand　off'；　because　the　inside　was　practically　finished。　　None　of　them　wished　to　lose　any　time　if　they　could　possibly　help　it；　because　there　were　only　ten　days　more　before　Christmas。

The　morning　slowly　wore　away　and　the　snow　did　not　fall。　　The　hands　worked　on　in　silence；　for　they　were　in　no　mood　for　talking；　and　not　only　that；　but　they　were　afraid　that　Hunter　or　Rushton　or　Crass　might　be　watching　them　from　behind　some　bush　or　tree；　or　through　some　of　the　windows。　　This　dread　possessed　them　to　such　an　extent　that　most　of　them　were　almost　afraid　even　to　look　round；　and　kept　steadily　on　at　work。　　None　of　them　wished　to　spoil　his　chance　of　being　kept　on　to　help　to　do　the　other　house　that　it　was　reported　Rushton　&　Co。　were　going　to　‘do　up'　for　Mr　Sweater。

Twelve　o'clock　came　at　last；　and　Crass's　whistle　had　scarcely　ceased　to　sound　before　they　all　assembled　in　the　kitchen　before　the　roaring　fire。　　Sweater　had　sent　in　two　tons　of　coal　and　had　given　orders　that　fires　were　to　be　lit　every　day　in　nearly　every　room　to　make　the　house　habitable　by　Christmas。

‘I　wonder　if　it's　true　as　the　firm's　got　another　job　to　do　for　old　Sweater？'　remarked　Harlow　as　he　was　toasting　a　bloater　on　the　end　of　the　pointed　stick。

‘True？　No！'　said　the　man　on　the　pail　scornfully。　　‘It's　all　bogy。　　You　know　that　empty　'ouse　as　they　said　Sweater　'ad　bought　…　the　one　that　Rushton　and　Nimrod　was　seen　lookin'　at？'

‘Yes；'　replied　Harlow。　　The　other　men　listened　with　evident　interest。　‘Well；　they　wasn't　pricing　it　up　after　all！　T　he　landlord　of　that　'ouse　is　abroad；　and　there　was　some　plants　in　the　garden　as　Rushton　thought　'e'd　like；　and　'e　was　tellin'　Misery　which　ones　'e　wanted。　And　afterwards　old　Pontius　Pilate　came　up　with　Ned　Dawson　and　a　truck。　They　made　two　or　three　journeys　and　took　bloody　near　everything　in　the　garden　as　was　worth　takin'。　　What　didn't　go　to　Rushton's　place　went　to　'Unter's。'

The　disappointment　of　their　hopes　for　another　job　was　almost　forgotten　in　their　interest　in　this　story。

‘Who　told　you　about　it？'　said　Harlow。

‘Ned　Dawson　'imself。　　It's　right　enough　what　I　say。　Ask　'im。'

Ned　Dawson；　usually　called　‘Bundy's　mate'；　had　been　away　from　the　house　for　a　few　days　down　at　the　yard　doing　odd　jobs；　and　had　only　come　back　to　the　‘Cave'　that　morning。　　On　being　appealed　to；　he　corroborated　Dick　Wantley's　statement。

‘They'll　be　gettin'　theirselves　into　trouble　if　they　ain't　careful；'　remarked　Easton。

‘Oh；　no　they　won't；　Rushton's　too　artful　for　that。　　It　seems　the　agent　is　a　pal　of　'is；　and　they　worked　it　between　'em。'

‘Wot　a　bloody　cheek；　though！'　exclaimed　Harlow。

‘Oh；　that's　nothing　to　some　of　the　things　I've　known　'em　do　before　now；'　said　the　man　on　the　pail。　　‘Why；　don't　you　remember；　back　in　the　summer；　that　carved　hoak　hall　table　as　Rushton　pinched　out　of　that　'ouse　on　Grand　Parade？'

‘Yes；　that　was　a　bit　of　all　right　too；　wasn't　it？'　cried　Philpot；　and　several　of　the　others　laughed。

‘You　know；　that　big　'ouse　we　did　up　last　summer　…　No。　596；'　Wantley　continued；　for　the　benefit　of　those　not　‘in　the　know'。　　‘Well；　it　'ad　bin　empty　for　a　long　time　and　we　found　this　'ere　table　in　a　cupboard　under　the　stairs。　　A　bloody　fine　table　it　was　too。　　One　of　them　bracket　tables　what　you　fix　to　the　wall；　without　no　legs。　　It　'ad　a　'arf…round　marble　top　to　it；　and　underneath　was　a　carved　hoak　figger；　a　mermaid；　with　'er　arms　up　over　'er　'ead　'oldin'　up　the　table　top　…　something　splendid！'　　The　man　on　the　pail　waxed　enthusiastic　as　he　thought　of　it。　　‘Must　'ave　been　worth　at　least　five　quid。　　Well；　just　as　we　pulled　this　'ere　table　out；　who　should　come　in　but　Rushton；　and　when　'e　seen　it；　'e　tells　Crass　to　cover　it　over　with　a　sack　and　not　to　let　nobody　see　it。　　And　then　'e　clears　orf　to　the　shop　and　sends　the　boy　down　with　the　truck　and　'as　it　took　up　to　'is　own　'ouse；　and　it's　there　now；　fixed　in　the　front　'all。　　I　was　sent　up　there　a　couple　of　months　ago　to　paint　and　varnish　the　lobby　doors　and　I　seen　it　meself。　　There's　a　pitcher　called　〃The　Day　of　Judgement〃　'angin'　on　the　wall　just　over　it　…　thunder　and　lightning　and　earthquakes　and　corpses　gettin'　up　out　o'　their　graves　…　something　bloody　'orrible！　And　underneath　the　picture　is　a　card　with　a　tex　out　of　the　Bible　…　〃Christ　is　the　'ead　of　this　'ouse：　the　unknown　guest　at　every　meal。　The　silent　listener　to　every　conversation。〃　　I　was　workin'　there　for　three　or　four　days　and　I　got　to　know　it　orf　by　'eart。'

‘Well；　that　takes　the　biskit；　don't　it？'　said　Philpot。

‘Yes：　but　the　best　of　it　was；'　the　man　on　the　pail　proceeded；　‘the　best　of　it　was；　when　ole　Misery　'eard　about　the　table；　'e　was　so　bloody　wild　because　'e　didn't　get　it　'imself　that　'e　went　upstairs　and　pinched　one　of　the　venetian　blinds　and　'ad　it　took　up　to　'is　own　'ouse　by　the　boy；　and　a　few　days　arterwards　one　of　the　carpenters　'ad　to　go　and　fix　it　up　in　'is　bedroom。'

‘And　wasn't　it　never　found　out？'　inquired　Easton。

‘Well；　there　was　a　bit　of　talk　about　it。　　The　agent　wanted　to　know　where　it　was；　but　Pontius　Pilate　swore　black　and　white　as　there　'adn't　been　no　blind　in　that　room；　and　the　end　of　it　was　that　the　firm　got　the　order　to　supply　a　new　one。'

‘What　I　can't　understand　is；　who　did　the　table　belong　to？'　said　Harlow。

‘It　was　a　fixture　belongin'　to　the　'ouse；'　replied　Wantley。　　‘But　I　suppose　the　former　tenants　had　some　piece　of　furniture　of　their　own　that　they　wanted　to　put　in　the　'all　where　this　table　was　fixed；　so　they　took　it　down　and　stored　it　away　in　this　'ere　cupboard；　and　when　they　left　the　'ouse　I　suppose　they　didn't　trouble　to　put　it　back　again。　　Anyway；　there　was　the　mark　on　the　wall　where　it　used　to　be　fixed；　but　when　we　did　the　staircase　down；　the　place　was　papered　over；　and　I　suppose　the　landlord　or　the　agent　never　give　the　table　a　thought。　　Anyhow；　Rushton　got　away　with　it　all　right。'

A　number　of　similar　stories　were　related　by　several　others　concerning　the　doings　of　different　employers　they　had　worked　for；　but　after　a　time　the　conversation　reverted　to　the　subject　that　was　uppermost　in　their　thoughts　…　the　impending　slaughter；　and　the　improbability　of　being　able　to　obtain　another　job；　considering　the　large　number　of　men　who　were　already　out　of　employment。

‘I　can't　make　it　out；　myself；'　remarked　Easton。　　‘Things　seems　to　get　worse　every　year。　　There　don't　seem　to　be　'arf　the　work　about　that　there　used　to　be；　and　even　what　there　is　is　messed　up　anyhow；　as　if　the　people　who　'as　it　done　can't　afford　to　pay　for　it。'

‘Yes；'　said　Harlow；　‘that's　true　enough。　　Why；　just　look　at　the　work　that's　in　one　o'　them　'ouses　on　the　Grand　Parade。　　People　must　'ave　'ad　more　money　to　spend　in　those　days；　you　know；　all　those　massive　curtain　cornishes　over　the　drawing…　and　dining…room　winders　…　gilded　solid！　　Why；　nowadays　they'd　want　all　the　bloody　'ouse　done　down　right　through　…　inside　and　out；　for　the　money　it　cost　to　gild　one　of　them。'

‘It　seems　that　nearly　everybody　is　more　or　less　'ard　up　nowadays；'　said　Philpot。　　‘I'm　jiggered　if　I　can　understand　it；　but　there　it　is。'

‘You　should　ast　Owen　to　explain　it　to　yer；'　remarked　Crass　with　a　jeering　laugh。　　‘'E　knows　all　about　wot's　the　cause　of　poverty；　but　'e　won't　tell　nobody。　　'E's　been　GOIN'　to　tell　us　wot　it　is　for　a　long　time　past；　but　it　don't　seem　to　come　orf。'

Crass　had　not　yet　had　an　opportunity　of　producing　the　Obscurer　cutting；　and　he　made　this　remark　in　the　hope　of　turning　the　conversation　into　a　channel　that　would　enable　him　to　do　so。　　But　Owen　did　not　respond；　and　went　on　reading　his　newspaper。

‘We　ain't　'ad　no　lectures　at　all　lately；　'ave　we？'　said　Harlow　in　an　injured　tone。　　‘I　think　it's　about　time　Owen　explained　what　the　real　cause　of　poverty　is。　　I'm　beginning　to　get　anxious　about　it。'

The　others　laughed。



When　Philpot　had　finished　eating　his　dinner　he　went　out　of　the　kitchen　and　presently　returned　with　a　small　pair　of　steps；　which　he　opened　and　placed　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　with　the　back　of　the　steps　facing　the　audience。

‘There　you　are；　me　son！'　he　exclaimed　to　Owen。　　‘There's　a　pulpit　for　yer。'

‘Yes！　come　on　'ere！'　cried　Crass；　feeling　in　his　waistcoat　pocket　for　the　cutting。　　‘Tell　us　wot's　the　real　cause　of　poverty。'

‘'Ear；　'ear；'　shouted　the　man　on　the　pail。　　‘Git　up　into　the　bloody　pulpit　and　give　us　a　sermon。'

As　Owen　made　no　response　to　the　invitations；　the　crowd　began　to　hoot　and　groan。

‘Come　on；　man；'　whispered　Philpot；　winking　his　goggle　eye　persuasively　at　Owen。　　‘Come　on；　just　for　a　bit　of　turn；　to　pass　the　time　away。'

Owen　accordingly　ascended　the　steps　…　much　to　the　secret　delight　of　Crass　…　and　was　immediately　greeted　with　a　round　of　enthusiastic　applause。

‘There　you　are；　you　see；'　said　Philpot；　addressing　the　meeting。　　‘It's　no　use　booin'　and　threatenin'；　because　'e's　one　of　them　lecturers　wot　can　honly　be　managed　with　kindness。　　If　it　'adn't　a　bin　for　me；　'e　wouldn't　'ave　agreed　to　speak　at　all。'

Philpot　having　been　unanimously　elected　chairman；　proposed　by　Harlow　and　seconded　by　the　man　on　the　pail；　Owen　commenced：

‘Mr　Chairman　and　gentlemen：

‘Unaccustomed　as　I　am　to　public　speaking；　it　is　with　some　degree　of　hesitation　that　I　venture　to　address　myself　to　such　a　large；　distinguished；　fashionable；　and　intelligent　looking　audience　as　that　which　I　have　the　honour　of　seeing　before　me　on　the　present　occasion。'　（Applause。）

‘One　of　the　finest　speakers　I've　ever　'eard！'　remarked　the　man　on　the　pail　in　a　loud　whisper　to　the　chairman；　who　motioned　him　to　be　silent。

Owen　continued：

‘In　some　of　my　previous　lectures　I　have　endeavoured　to　convince　you　that　money　is　in　itself　of　no　value　and　of　no　real　use　whatever。　　In　this　I　am　afraid　I　have　been　rather　unsuccessful。'

‘Not　a　bit　of　it；　mate；'　cried　Crass；　sarcastically。　　‘We　all　agrees