the ragged trousered philanthropists-第21节

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He　could　arrange　the　cord　on　the　hook　on　one　of　the　doors　and　then　under　pretence　of　play；　it　would　be　done。　　The　boy　would　offer　no　resistance；　and　in　a　few　minutes　it　would　all　be　over。

He　threw　down　the　book　and　pressed　his　hands　over　his　ears：　he　fancied　he　could　hear　the　boy's　hands　and　feet　beating　against　the　panels　of　the　door　as　he　struggled　in　his　death　agony。

Then；　as　his　arms　fell　nervelessly　by　his　side　again；　he　thought　that　he　heard　Frankie's　voice　calling。

‘Dad！　　Dad！'

Owen　hastily　opened　the　door。

‘Are　you　calling；　Frankie？'

‘Yes。　　I've　been　calling　you　quite　a　long　time。'

‘What　do　you　want？'

‘I　want　you　to　come　here。　　I　want　to　tell　you　something。'

‘Well；　what　is　it　dear？　　I　thought　you　were　asleep　a　long　time　ago；'　said　Owen　as　he　came　into　the　room。

‘That's　just　what　I　want　to　speak　to　you　about：　the　kitten's　gone　to　sleep　all　right；　but　I　can't　go。　　I've　tried　all　different　ways；　counting　and　all；　but　it's　no　use；　so　I　thought　I'd　ask　you　if　you'd　mind　coming　and　staying　with　me；　and　letting　me　hold　you　hand　for　a　little　while　and　the　p'raps　I　could　go。'

The　boy　twined　his　arms　round　Owen's　neck　and　hugged　him　very　tightly。

‘Oh；　Dad；　I　love　you　so　much！'　he　said。　　‘I　love　you　so　much；　I　could　squeeze　you　to　death。'

‘I'm　afraid　you　will；　if　you　squeeze　me　so　tightly　as　that。'

The　boy　laughed　softly　as　he　relaxed　his　hold。　　‘That　WOULD　be　a　funny　way　of　showing　you　how　much　I　love　you；　wouldn't　it；　Dad？　　Squeezing　you　to　death！'

‘Yes；　I　suppose　it　would；'　replied　Owen　huskily；　as　he　tucked　the　bedclothes　round　the　child's　shoulders。　　‘But　don't　talk　any　more；　dear；　just　hold　my　hand　and　try　to　sleep。'

‘All　right；'　said　Frankie。

Lying　there　very　quietly；　holding　his　father's　hand　and　occasionally　kissing　it；　the　child　presently　fell　asleep。　　Then　Owen　got　up　very　gently　and；　having　taken　the　kitten　out　of　the　bed　again　and　arranged　the　bedclothes；　he　softly　kissed　the　boy's　forehead　and　returned　to　the　other　room。

Looking　about　for　a　suitable　place　for　the　kitten　to　sleep　in；　he　noticed　Frankie's　toy　box；　and　having　emptied　the　toys　on　to　the　floor　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　he　made　a　bed　in　the　box　with　some　rags　and　placed　it　on　its　side　on　the　hearthrug；　facing　the　fire；　and　with　some　difficulty　persuaded　the　kitten　to　lie　in　it。　　Then；　having　placed　the　chairs　on　which　his　clothes　were　drying　at　a　safe　distance　from　the　fire；　he　went　into　the　bedroom。　　Nora　was　still　awake。

‘Are　you　feeling　any　better；　dear？'　he　said。

‘Yes；　I'm　ever　so　much　better　since　I've　been　in　bed；　but　I　can't　help　worrying　about　your　clothes。　　I'm　afraid　they'll　never　be　dry　enough　for　you　to　put　on　the　first　thing　in　the　morning。　　Couldn't　you　stay　at　home　till　after　breakfast；　just　for　once？'

‘No；　I　mustn't　do　that。　　If　I　did　Hunter　would　probably　tell　me　to　stay　away　altogether。　　I　believe　he　would　be　glad　of　an　excuse　to　get　rid　of　another　full…price　man　just　now。'

‘But　if　it's　raining　like　this　in　the　morning；　you'll　be　wet　through　before　you　get　there。'

‘It's　no　good　worrying　about　that　dear：　besides；　I　can　wear　this　old　coat　that　I　have　no　now；　over　the　other。'

‘And　if　you　wrap　your　old　shoes　in　some　paper；　and　take　them　with　you；　you　can　take　off　your　wet　boots　as　soon　as　you　get　to　the　place。'

‘Yes；　all　right；'　responded　Owen。　　‘Besides；'　he　added；　reassuringly；　‘even　if　I　do　get　a　little　wet；　we　always　have　a　fire　there；　you　know。'

‘Well；　I　hope　the　weather　will　be　a　little　better　than　this　in　the　morning；'　said　Nora。　　‘Isn't　it　a　dreadful　night！　　I　keep　feeling　afraid　that　the　house　is　going　to　be　blown　down。'

Long　after　Nora　was　asleep；　Owen　lay　listening　to　the　howling　of　the　wind　and　the　noise　of　the　rain　as　it　poured　heavily　on　the　roof　。。。



Chapter　7

The　Exterminating　Machines


‘Come　on；　Saturday！'　shouted　Philpot；　just　after　seven　o'clock　one　Monday　morning　as　they　were　getting　ready　to　commence　work。

It　was　still　dark　outside；　but　the　scullery　was　dimly　illuminated　by　the　flickering　light　of　two　candles　which　Crass　had　lighted　and　stuck　on　the　shelf　over　the　fireplace　in　order　to　enable　him　to　see　to　serve　out　the　different　lots　of　paints　and　brushes　to　the　men。

‘Yes；　it　do　seem　a　'ell　of　a　long　week；　don't　it？'　remarked　Harlow　as　he　hung　his　overcoat　on　a　nail　and　proceeded　to　put　on　his　apron　and　blouse。　　‘I've　'ad　bloody　near　enough　of　it　already。'

‘Wish　to　Christ　it　was　breakfast…time；'　growled　the　more　easily　satisfied　Easton。

Extraordinary　as　it　may　appear；　none　of　them　took　any　pride　in　their　work：　they　did　not　‘love'　it。　　They　had　no　conception　of　that　lofty　ideal　of　‘work　for　work's　sake'；　which　is　so　popular　with　the　people　who　do　nothing。　　On　the　contrary；　when　the　workers　arrived　in　the　morning　they　wished　it　was　breakfast…time。　　When　they　resumed　work　after　breakfast　they　wished　it　was　dinner…time。　　After　dinner　they　wished　it　was　one　o'clock　on　Saturday。

So　they　went　on；　day　after　day；　year　after　year；　wishing　their　time　was　over　and；　without　realizing　it；　really　wishing　that　they　were　dead。

How　extraordinary　this　must　appear　to　those　idealists　who　believe　in　‘work　for　work's　sake'；　but　who　themselves　do　nothing　but　devour　or　use　and　enjoy　or　waste　the　things　that　are　produced　by　the　labour　of　those　others　who　are　not　themselves　permitted　to　enjoy　a　fair　share　of　the　good　things　they　help　to　create？

Crass　poured　several　lots　of　colour　into　several　pots。

‘Harlow；'　he　said；　‘you　and　Sawkins；　when　he　comes；　can　go　up　and　do　the　top　bedrooms　out　with　this　colour。　　You'll　find　a　couple　of　candles　up　there。　　It's　only　goin'　to　'ave　one　coat；　so　see　that　you　make　it　cover　all　right；　and　just　look　after　Sawkins　a　bit　so　as　'e　doesn't　make　a　bloody　mess　of　it。　　You　do　the　doors　and　windows；　and　let　'im　do　the　cupboards　and　skirtings。'

‘That's　a　bit　of　all　right；　I　must　say；'　Harlow　said；　addressing　the　company　generally。　　‘We've　got　to　teach　a　br　like　'im　so　as　'e　can　do　us　out　of　a　job　presently　by　working　under　price。'

‘Well；　I　can't　'elp　it；'　growled　Crass。　　‘You　know　'ow　it　is：　‘Unter　sends　'im　'ere　to　do　paintin'；　and　I've　got　to　put　'im　on　it。　　There　ain't　nothing　else　for　'im　to　do。'

Further　discussion　on　this　subject　was　prevented　by　Sawkins'　arrival；　nearly　a　quarter　of　an　hour　late。

‘Oh；　you　'ave　come；　then；'　sneered　Crass。　　‘Thought　p'raps　you'd　gorn　for　a　'oliday。'

Sawkins　muttered　something　about　oversleeping　himself；　and　having　hastily　put　on　his　apron；　he　went　upstairs　with　Harlow。

‘Now；　let's　see；'　Crass　said；　addressing　Philpot。　　‘You　and　Newman　'ad　better　go　and　make　a　start　on　the　second　floor：　this　is　the　colour；　and　'ere's　a　couple　of　candles。　　You'd　better　not　both　go　in　one　room　or　'Unter　will　growl　about　it。　　You　take　one　of　the　front　and　let　Newman　take　one　of　the　back　rooms。　　Take　a　bit　of　stoppin'　with　you：　they're　goin'　to　'ave　two　coats；　but　you'd　better　putty　up　the　'oles　as　well　as　you　can；　this　time。'

‘Only　two　coats！'　said　Philpot。　　‘Them　rooms　will　never　look　nothing　with　two　coats　…　a　light　colour　like　this。'

‘It's　only　goin'　to　get　two；　anyway；'　returned　Crass；　testily。　‘'Unter　said　so；　so　you'll　'ave　to　do　the　best　you　can　with　'em；　and　get　'em　smeared　over　middlin'　sudden；　too。'

Crass　did　not　think　it　necessary　to　mention　that　according　to　the　copy　of　the　specification　of　the　work　which　he　had　in　his　pocket　the　rooms　in　question　were　supposed　to　have　four　coats。

Crass　now　turned　to　Owen。

‘There's　that　drorin'…room；'　he　said。　　‘I　don't　know　what's　goin'　to　be　done　with　that　yet。　　I　don't　think　they've　decided　about　it。　Whatever's　to　be　done　to　it　will　be　an　extra；　because　all　that's　said　about　it　in　the　contract　is　to　face　it　up　with　putty　and　give　it　one　coat　of　white。　　So　you　and　Easton　'ad　better　get　on　with　it。'

Slyme　was　busy　softening　some　putty　by　rubbing　and　squeezing　it　between　his　hands。

‘I　suppose　I'd　better　finish　the　room　I　started　on　on　Saturday？'　he　asked。

‘All　right；'　replied　Crass。　　‘Have　you　got　enough　colour？'

‘Yes；'　said　Slyme。

As　he　passed　through　the　kitchen　on　the　way　to　his　work；　Slyme　accosted　Bert；　the　boy；　who　was　engaged　in　lighting；　with　some　pieces　of　wood；　a　fire　to　boil　the　water　to　make　the　tea　for　breakfast　at　eight　o'clock。

‘There's　a　bloater　I　want's　cooked；'　he　said。

‘All　right；'　replied　Bert。　　‘Put　it　over　there　on　the　dresser　along　of　Philpot's　and　mine。'

Slyme　took　the　bloater　from　his　food　basket；　but　as　he　was　about　to　put　it　in　the　place　indicated；　he　observed　that　his　was　rather　a　larger　one　than　either　of　the　other　two。　　This　was　an　important　matter。　　After　they　were　cooked　it　would　not　be　easy　to　say　which　was　which：　he　might　possibly　be　given　one　of　the　smaller　ones　instead　of　his　own。　　He　took　out　his　pocket　knife　and　cut　off　the　tail　of　the　large　bloater。

‘'Ere　it　is；　then；'　he　said　to　Bert。　　‘I've　cut　the　tail　of　mine　so　as　you'll　know　which　it　is。'

It　was　now　about　twenty　minutes　past　seven　and　all　the　other　men　having　been　started　at　work；　Crass　washed　his　hands　under　the　tap。　Then　he　went　into　the　kitchen　and　having　rigged　up　a　seat　by　taking　two　of　the　drawers　out　of　the　dresser　and　placing　them　on　the　floor　about　six　feet　apart　and　laying　a　plank　across