the ragged trousered philanthropists-第9章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


he　flyleaf　might　have　been　read　the　following　inscription：　‘To　dear　Ruth；　from　her　loving　friend　Mrs　Starvem　with　the　prayer　that　God's　word　may　be　her　guide　and　that　Jesus　may　be　her　very　own　Saviour。　　Oct。　12。　19'

Mrs　Starvem　was　Ruth's　former　mistress；　and　this　had　been　her　parting　gift　when　Ruth　left　to　get　married。　　It　was　supposed　to　be　a　keepsake；　but　as　Ruth　never　opened　the　book　and　never　willingly　allowed　her　thoughts　to　dwell　upon　the　scenes　of　which　it　reminded　her；　she　had　forgotten　the　existence　of　Mrs　Starvem　almost　as　completely　as　that　well…to…do　and　pious　lady　had　forgotten　hers。

For　Ruth；　the　memory　of　the　time　she　spent　in　the　house　of　‘her　loving　friend'　was　the　reverse　of　pleasant。　　It　comprised　a　series　of　recollections　of　petty　tyrannies；　insults　and　indignities。　　Six　years　of　cruelly　excessive　work；　beginning　every　morning　two　or　three　hours　before　the　rest　of　the　household　were　awake　and　ceasing　only　when　she　went　exhausted　to　bed；　late　at　night。

She　had　been　what　is　called　a　‘slavey'　but　if　she　had　been　really　a　slave　her　owner　would　have　had　some　regard　for　her　health　and　welfare：　her　‘loving　friend'　had　had　none。　　Mrs　Starvem's　only　thought　had　been　to　get　out　of　Ruth　the　greatest　possible　amount　of　labour　and　to　give　her　as　little　as　possible　in　return。

When　Ruth　looked　back　upon　that　dreadful　time　she　saw　it；　as　one　might　say；　surrounded　by　a　halo　of　religion。　　She　never　passed　by　a　chapel　or　heard　the　name　of　God；　or　the　singing　of　a　hymn；　without　thinking　of　her　former　mistress。　　To　have　looked　into　this　Bible　would　have　reminded　her　of　Mrs　Starvem；　that　was　one　of　the　reasons　why　the　book　reposed；　unopened　and　unread；　a　mere　ornament　on　the　table　in　the　bay　window。

The　second　door　in　the　passage　near　the　foot　of　the　stairs　led　into　the　kitchen　or　living…room：　from　here　another　door　led　into　the　scullery。　　Upstairs　were　two　bedrooms。

As　Easton　entered　the　house；　his　wife　met　him　in　the　passage　and　asked　him　not　to　make　a　noise　as　the　child　had　just　gone　to　sleep。　　They　kissed　each　other　and　she　helped　him　to　remove　his　wet　overcoat。　　Then　they　both　went　softly　into　the　kitchen。

This　room　was　about　the　same　size　as　the　sitting…room。　　At　one　end　was　a　small　range　with　an　oven　and　a　boiler；　and　a　high　mantelpiece　painted　black。　　On　the　mantelshelf　was　a　small　round　alarm　clock　and　some　brightly　polished　tin　canisters。　　At　the　other　end　of　the　room；　facing　the　fireplace；　was　a　small　dresser　on　the　shelves　of　which　were　nearly　arranged　a　number　of　plates　and　dishes。　　The　walls　were　papered　with　oak　paper。　　On　one　wall；　between　two　coloured　almanacks；　hung　a　tin　lamp　with　a　reflector　behind　the　light。　　In　the　middle　of　the　room　was　an　oblong　deal　table　with　a　white　tablecloth　upon　which　the　tea　things　were　set　ready。　　There　were　four　kitchen　chairs；　two　of　which　were　placed　close　to　the　table。　　Overhead；　across　the　room；　about　eighteen　inches　down　from　the　ceiling；　were　stretched　several　cords　upon　which　were　drying　a　number　of　linen　or　calico　undergarments；　a　coloured　shirt；　and　Easton's　white　apron　and　jacket。　　On　the　back　of　a　chair　at　one　side　of　the　fire　more　clothes　were　drying。　　At　the　other　side　on　the　floor　was　a　wicker　cradle　in　which　a　baby　was　sleeping。　Nearby　stood　a　chair　with　a　towel　hung　on　the　back；　arranged　so　as　to　shade　the　infant's　face　from　the　light　of　the　lamp。　　An　air　of　homely　comfort　pervaded　the　room；　the　atmosphere　was　warm；　and　the　fire　blazed　cheerfully　over　the　whitened　hearth。

They　walked　softly　over　and　stood　by　the　cradle　side　looking　at　the　child；　as　they　looked　the　baby　kept　moving　uneasily　in　its　sleep。　　Its　face　was　very　flushed　and　its　eyes　were　moving　under　the　half…closed　lids。　　Every　now　and　again　its　lips　were　drawn　back　slightly；　showing　part　of　the　gums；　presently　it　began　to　whimper；　drawing　up　its　knees　as　if　in　pain。

‘He　seems　to　have　something　wrong　with　him；'　said　Easton。

‘I　think　it's　his　teeth；'　replied　the　mother。　　‘He's　been　very　restless　all　day　and　he　was　awake　nearly　all　last　night。'

‘P'r'aps　he's　hungry。'

‘No；　it　can't　be　that。　　He　had　the　best　part　of　an　egg　this　morning　and　I've　nursed　him　several　times　today。　　And　then　at　dinner…time　he　had　a　whole　saucer　full　of　fried　potatoes　with　little　bits　of　bacon　in　it。'

Again　the　infant　whimpered　and　twisted　in　its　sleep；　its　lips　drawn　back　showing　the　gums：　its　knees　pressed　closely　to　its　body；　the　little　fists　clenched；　and　face　flushed。　　Then　after　a　few　seconds　it　became　placid：　the　mouth　resumed　its　usual　shape；　the　limbs　relaxed　and　the　child　slumbered　peacefully。

‘Don't　you　think　he's　getting　thin？'　asked　Easton。　　‘It　may　be　fancy；　but　he　don't　seem　to　me　to　be　as　big　now　as　he　was　three　months　ago。'

‘No；　he's　not　quite　so　fat；'　admitted　Ruth。　　‘It's　his　teeth　what's　wearing　him　out；　he　don't　hardly　get　no　rest　at　all　with　them。'

They　continued　looking　at　him　a　little　longer。　　Ruth　thought　he　was　a　very　beautiful　child：　he　would　be　eight　months　old　on　Sunday。　　They　were　sorry　they　could　do　nothing　to　ease　his　pain；　but　consoled　themselves　with　the　reflection　that　he　would　be　all　right　once　those　teeth　were　through。

‘Well；　let's　have　some　tea；'　said　Easton　at　last。

Whilst　he　removed　his　wet　boots　and　socks　and　placed　them　in　front　of　the　fire　to　dry　and　put　on　dry　socks　and　a　pair　of　slippers　in　their　stead；　Ruth　half　filled　a　tin　basin　with　hot　water　from　the　boiler　and　gave　it　to　him；　and　he　then　went　to　the　scullery；　added　some　cold　water　and　began　to　wash　the　paint　off　his　hands。　　This　done　he　returned　to　the　kitchen　and　sat　down　at　the　table。

‘I　couldn't　think　what　to　give　you　to　eat　tonight；'　said　Ruth　as　she　poured　out　the　tea。　　‘I　hadn't　got　no　money　left　and　there　wasn't　nothing　in　the　house　except　bread　and　butter　and　that　piece　of　cheese；　so　I　cut　some　bread　and　butter　and　put　some　thin　slices　of　cheese　on　it　and　toasted　it　on　a　place　in　front　of　the　fire。　　I　hope　you'll　like　it：　it　was　the　best　I　could　do。'

‘That's　all　right：　it　smells　very　nice　anyway；　and　I'm　very　hungry。'

As　they　were　taking　their　tea　Easton　told　his　wife　about　Linden's　affair　and　his　apprehensions　as　to　what　might　befall　himself。　　They　were　both　very　indignant；　and　sorry　for　poor　old　Linden；　but　their　sympathy　for　him　was　soon　forgotten　in　their　fears　for　their　own　immediate　future。

They　remained　at　the　table　in　silence　for　some　time：　then；

‘How　much　rent　do　we　owe　now？'　asked　Easton。

‘Four　weeks；　and　I　promised　the　collector　the　last　time　he　called　that　we'd　pay　two　weeks　next　Monday。　　He　was　quite　nasty　about　it。'

‘Well；　I　suppose　you'll　have　to　pay　it；　that's　all；'　said　Easton。

‘How　much　money　will　you　have　tomorrow？'　asked　Ruth。

He　began　to　reckon　up　his　time：　he　started　on　Monday　and　today　was　Friday：　five　days；　from　seven　to　five；　less　half　an　hour　for　breakfast　and　an　hour　for　dinner；　eight　and　a　half　hours　a　day　…　forty…two　hours　and　a　half。　　At　sevenpence　an　hour　that　came　to　one　pound　four　and　ninepence　halfpenny。

‘You　know　I　only　started　on　Monday；'　he　said；　‘so　there's　no　back　day　to　come。　　Tomorrow　goes　into　next　week。'

‘Yes；　I　know；'　replied　Ruth。

‘If　we　pay　the　two　week's　rent　that'll　leave　us　twelve　shillings　to　live　on。'

‘But　we　won't　be　able　to　keep　all　of　that；'　said　Ruth；　‘because　there's　other　things　to　pay。'

‘What　other　things？'

‘We　owe　the　baker　eight　shillings　for　the　bread　he　let　us　have　while　you　were　not　working；　and　there's　about　twelve　shillings　owing　for　groceries。　　We'll　have　to　pay　them　something　on　account。　　Then　we　want　some　more　coal；　there's　only　about　a　shovelful　left；　and　…'

‘Wait　a　minnit；'　said　Easton。　　‘The　best　way　is　to　write　out　a　list　of　everything　we　owe；　then　we　shall　know　exactly　where　we　are。　　You　get　me　a　piece　of　paper　and　tell　me　what　to　write。　　Then　we'll　see　what　it　all　comes　to。'

‘Do　you　mean　everything　we　owe；　or　everything　we　must　pay　tomorrow。'

‘I　think　we'd　better　make　a　list　of　all　we　owe　first。'

While　they　were　talking　the　baby　was　sleeping　restlessly；　occasionally　uttering　plaintive　little　cries。　　The　mother　now　went　and　knelt　at　the　side　of　the　cradle；　which　she　gently　rocked　with　one　hand；　patting　the　infant　with　the　other。

‘Except　the　furniture　people；　the　biggest　thing　we　owe　is　the　rent；'　she　said　when　Easton　was　ready　to　begin。

‘It　seems　to　me；'　said　he；　as；　after　having　cleared　a　space　on　the　table　and　arranged　the　paper；　he　began　to　sharpen　his　pencil　with　a　table…knife；　‘that　you　don't　manage　things　as　well　as　you　might。　　If　you　was　to　make　a　list　of　just　the　things　you　MUST　have　before　you　went　out　of　a　Saturday；　you'd　find　the　money　would　go　much　farther。　Instead　of　doing　that　you　just　take　the　money　in　your　hand　without　knowing　exactly　what　you're　going　to　do　with　it；　and　when　you　come　back　it's　all　gone　and　next　to　nothing　to　show　for　it。'

His　wife　made　no　reply：　her　head　was　bent　over　the　child。

‘Now；　let's　see；'　went　on　her　husband。　　‘First　of　all　there's　the　rent。　　How　much　did　you　say　we　owe？'

‘Four　weeks。　　That's　the　three　weeks　you　were　out　and　this　week。'

‘Four　sixes　is　twenty…four；　that's　one　pound　four；'　said　Easton　as　he　wrote　it　down。　　‘Next？'

‘Grocer；　twelve　shillings。'

Easton　looked　up　in　astonishment。

‘Twelve　shillings。　　Why；　didn't　you　tell　me　only　the　other　day　that　you'd　paid　up　all　we　owed　for　groceries？'

‘Don't　you　remember　we　owed　thirty…five　shillings　last　spring？　　Well；　I've　been　paying　that　bit　by　bit　all　the　summer。　　I　paid　the　last　of　it　the　week　you　finished　your　last　job。　　Then　you　were　out　three　weeks　…　up　till　last　Friday　…　and　as　we　had　nothing　in　hand　I　had　to　get　what　we　wanted　without　paying　for　it。'

‘But　do　you　mean　to　say　it　cost　us　three　shillings　a　week　for　tea　and　sugar　and　butter？'

‘It's　not　only　them。　　There's　been　bacon　and　eggs　and　cheese　and　other　things。'

The　man　was　beginning　to　become　impatient。

‘Well；'　he　said；　‘What　else？'

‘We　owe　the　baker　eight　shillings。　　We　did　owe　nearly　a　pound；　but　I've　been　paying　it　off　a　little　at　a　time。'

This　was　added　to　the　list。

‘Then　there's　the　milkman。　　I've　not　paid　him　for　four　weeks。　　He　hasn't　sent　a　bill　yet；　but　you　can　reckon　it　up；　we　have　two　penn'orth　every　day。'

‘That's　four　and　eight；'　said　Easton；　writing　it　down。　　‘Anything　else？'

‘One　and　seven　to　the　greengrocer　for　potatoes；　cabbage；　and　paraffin　oil。'

‘Anything　else？'

‘We　owe　the　butcher　two　and　sevenpence。'

‘Why；　we　haven't　had　any　meat　for　a　long　time；'　said　Easton。　　‘When　was　it？'

‘Three　weeks　ago；　don't　you　remember？　　A　small　leg　of　mutton；'

‘Oh；　yes；'　and　he　added　the　item。

‘Then　there's　the　instalments　for　the　furniture　and　oilcloth　…　twelve　shillings。　　　A　letter　came　from　them　today。　　And　there's　something　else。'

She　took　three　letters　from　the　pocket　of　her　dress　and　handed　them　to　him。

‘They　all　came　today。　　I　didn't　show　them　to　you　before　as　I　didn't　want　to　upset　you　before　you　had　your　tea。'

Easton　drew　the　first　letter　from　its　envelope。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CORPORATION　OF　MUGSBOROUGH　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　General　District　and　Special　Rates　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FINAL　NOTICE

　　MR　W。　EASTON；

　　I　have　to　remind　you　that　the　amount　due　from　you　as　under；　in　　　respect　of　the　above　Rate