the ragged trousered philanthropists-第52章

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a　few　minutes　afterwards　they　observed　Misery　peeping　round　the　corner　of　the　house　at　them　and　they　wondered　how　long　he　had　been　there；　and　whether　he　had　overheard　their　conversation。

At　twelve　o'clock　Crass　and　Slyme　cleared　off　in　a　great　hurry；　and　a　little　while　afterwards；　Philpot　took　off　his　apron　and　put　on　his　coat　to　go　to　the　‘Cricketers'。　　When　the　others　found　out　where　he　was　going；　several　of　them　asked　him　to　bring　back　a　drink　for　them；　and　then　someone　suggested　that　all　those　who　wanted　some　beer　should　give　twopence　each。　　This　was　done：　one　shilling　and　fourpence　was　collected　and　given　to　Philpot；　who　was　to　bring　back　a　gallon　of　beer　in　a　jar。　　He　promised　to　get　back　as　soon　as　ever　he　could；　and　some　of　the　shareholders　decided　not　to　drink　any　tea　with　their　dinners；　but　to　wait　for　the　beer；　although　they　knew　that　it　would　be　nearly　time　to　resume　work　before　he　could　get　back。　　It　would　be　a　quarter　to　one　at　the　very　earliest。

The　minutes　dragged　slowly　by；　and　after　a　while　the　only　man　on　the　job　who　had　a　watch　began　to　lose　his　temper　and　refused　to　answer　any　more　inquiries　concerning　the　time。　　So　presently　Bert　was　sent　up　to　the　top　of　the　house　to　look　at　a　church　clock　which　was　visible　therefrom；　and　when　he　came　down　he　reported　that　it　was　ten　minutes　to　one。

Symptoms　of　anxiety　now　began　to　manifest　themselves　amongst　the　shareholders；　several　of　whom　went　down　to　the　main　road　to　see　if　Philpot　was　yet　in　sight；　but　each　returned　with　the　same　report　…　they　could　see　nothing　of　him。

No　one　was　formally　‘in　charge'　of　the　job　during　Crass's　absence；　but　they　all　returned　to　their　work　promptly　at　one　because　they　feared　that　Sawkins　or　some　other　sneak　might　report　any　irregularity　to　Crass　or　Misery。

At　a　quarter…past　one；　Philpot　was　still　missing　and　the　uneasiness　of　the　shareholders　began　to　develop　into　a　panic。　　Some　of　them　plainly　expressed　the　opinion　that　he　had　gone　on　the　razzle　with　the　money。　As　the　time　wore　on；　this　became　the　general　opinion。　　At　two　o'clock；　all　hope　of　his　return　having　been　abandoned；　two　or　three　of　the　shareholders　went　and　drank　some　of　the　cold　tea。

Their　fears　were　only　too　well　founded；　for　they　saw　no　more　of　Philpot　till　the　next　morning；　when　he　arrived　looking　very　sheepish　and　repentant　and　promised　to　refund　all　the　money　on　Saturday。　　He　also　made　a　long；　rambling　statement　from　which　it　appeared　that　on　his　way　to　the　‘Cricketers'　he　met　a　couple　of　chaps　whom　he　knew　who　were　out　of　work；　and　he　invited　them　to　come　and　have　a　drink。　　When　they　got　to　the　pub；　they　found　there　the　Semi…drunk　and　the　Besotted　Wretch。　　One　drink　led　to　another；　and　then　they　started　arguing；　and　he　had　forgotten　all　about　the　gallon　of　beer　until　he　woke　up　this　morning。

Whilst　Philpot　was　making　this　explanation　they　were　putting　on　their　aprons　and　blouses；　and　Crass　was　serving　out　the　lots　of　colour。　Slyme　took　no　part　in　the　conversation；　but　got　ready　as　quickly　as　possible　and　went　outside　to　make　a　start。　　The　reason　for　this　haste　soon　became　apparent　to　some　of　the　others；　for　they　noticed　that　he　had　selected　and　commenced　painting　a　large　window　that　was　so　situated　as　to　be　sheltered　from　the　keen　wind　that　was　blowing。

The　basement　of　the　house　was　slightly　below　the　level　of　the　ground　and　there　was　a　sort　of　a　trench　or　area　about　three　feet　deep　in　front　of　the　basement　windows。　　The　banks　of　this　trench　were　covered　with　rose　trees　and　evergreens；　and　the　bottom　was　a　mass　of　slimy；　evil…smelling；　rain…sodden　earth；　foul　with　the　excrement　of　nocturnal　animals。　　To　second…coat　these　basement　windows；　Philpot　and　Harlow　had　to　get　down　into　and　stand　in　all　this　filth；　which　soaked　through　the　worn　and　broken　soles　of　their　boots。　　As　they　worked；　the　thorns　of　the　rose　trees　caught　and　tore　their　clothing　and　lacerated　the　flesh　of　their　half…frozen　hands。

Owen　and　Easton　were　working　on　ladders　doing　the　windows　immediately　above　Philpot　and　Harlow；　Sawkins；　on　another　ladder；　was　painting　one　of　the　gables；　and　the　other　men　were　working　at　different　parts　of　the　outside　of　the　house。　　The　boy　Bert　was　painting　the　iron　railings　of　the　front　fence。　　The　weather　was　bitterly　cold；　the　sun　was　concealed　by　the　dreary　expanse　of　grey　cloud　that　covered　the　wintry　sky。

As　they　stood　there　working　most　of　the　time　they　were　almost　perfectly　motionless；　the　only　part　of　their　bodies　that　were　exercised　being　their　right　arms。　　The　work　they　were　now　doing　required　to　be　done　very　carefully　and　deliberately；　otherwise　the　glass　would　be　‘messed　up'　or　the　white　paint　of　the　frames　would　‘run　into'　the　dark　green　of　the　sashes；　both　colours　being　wet　at　the　same　time；　each　man　having　two　pots　of　paint　and　two　sets　of　brushes。　　The　wind　was　not　blowing　in　sudden　gusts；　but　swept　by　in　a　strong；　persistent　current　that　penetrated　their　clothing　and　left　them　trembling　and　numb　with　cold。　　It　blew　from　the　right；　and　it　was　all　the　worse　on　that　account；　because　the　right　arm；　being　in　use；　left　that　side　of　the　body　fully　exposed。　　They　were　able　to　keep　their　left　hands　in　their　trousers　pockets　and　the　left　arm　close　to　the　side　most　of　the　time。　　This　made　a　lot　of　difference。

Another　reason　why　it　is　worse　when　the　wind　strikes　upon　one　from　the　right　side　is　that　the　buttons　on　a　man's　coat　are　always　on　the　right　side；　and　consequently　the　wind　gets　underneath。　　Philpot　realized　this　all　the　more　because　some　of　the　buttons　on　his　coat　and　waistcoat　were　missing。

As　they　worked　on；　trembling　with　cold；　and　with　their　teeth　chattering；　their　faces　and　hands　became　of　that　pale　violet　colour　generally　seen　on　the　lips　of　a　corpse。　　Their　eyes　became　full　of　water　and　the　lids　were　red　and　inflamed。　　Philpot's　and　Harlow's　boots　were　soon　wet　through；　with　the　water　they　absorbed　from　the　damp　ground；　and　their　feet　were　sore　and　intensely　painful　with　cold。

Their　hands；　of　course；　suffered　the　most；　becoming　so　numbed　that　they　were　unable　to　feel　the　brushes　they　held；　in　fact；　presently；　as　Philpot　was　taking　a　dip　of　colour；　the　brush　fell　from　his　hand　into　the　pot；　and　then；　finding　that　he　was　unable　to　move　his　fingers；　he　put　his　hand　into　his　trousers　pocket　to　thaw；　and　began　to　walk　about；　stamping　his　feet　upon　the　ground。　　His　example　was　quickly　followed　by　Owen；　Easton　and　Harlow；　and　they　all　went　round　the　corner　to　the　sheltered　side　of　the　house　where　Slyme　was　working；　and　began　walking　up　and　down；　rubbing　their　hands；　stamping　their　feet　and　swinging　their　arms　to　warm　themselves。

‘If　I　thought　Nimrod　wasn't　comin'；　I'd　put　my　overcoat　on　and　work　in　it；'　remarked　Philpot；　'but　you　never　knows　when　to　expect　the　br；　and　if　'e　saw　me　in　it；　it　would　mean　the　bloody　push。'

‘It　wouldn't　interfere　with　our　workin'　if　we　did　wear　'em；'　said　Easton；　‘in　fact；　we'd　be　able　to　work　all　the　quicker　if　we　wasn't　so　cold。'

‘Even　if　Misery　didn't　come；　I　suppose　Crass　would　'ave　something　to　say　if　we　did　put　'em　on；'　continued　Philpot。

‘Well；　yer　couldn't　blame　'im　if　'e　did　say　something；　could　yer？'　said　Slyme；　offensively。　　‘Crass　would　get　into　a　row　'imself　if　'Unter　came　and　saw　us　workin'　in　overcoats。　　It　would　look　ridiclus。'

Slyme　suffered　less　from　the　cold　than　any　of　them；　not　only　because　he　had　secured　the　most　sheltered　window；　but　also　because　he　was　better　clothed　than　most　of　the　rest。

‘What's　Crass　supposed　to　be　doin'　inside？'　asked　Easton　as　he　tramped　up　and　down；　with　his　shoulders　hunched　up　and　his　hands　thrust　deep　into　the　pockets　of　his　trousers。

‘Blowed　if　I　know；'　replied　Philpot。　　‘Messin'　about　touchin'　up　or　makin'　colour。　　He　never　does　'is　share　of　a　job　like　this；　'e　knows　'ow　to　work　things　all　right　for　'isself。'

‘What　if　'e　does？　　We'd　be　the　same　if　we　was　in　'is　place；　and　so　would　anybody　else；'　said　Slyme；　and　added　sarcastically：　‘Or　p'haps　you'd　give　all　the　soft　jobs　to　other　people　and　do　all　the　rough　yerself！'

Slyme　knew　that；　although　they　were　speaking　of　Crass；　they　were　also　alluding　to　himself；　and　as　he　replied　to　Philpot　he　looked　slyly　at　Owen；　who　had　so　far　taken　no　part　in　the　conversation。

‘It's　not　a　question　of　what　we　would　do；'　chimed　in　Harlow。　　‘It's　a　question　of　what's　fair。　　If　it's　not　fair　for　Crass　to　pick　all　the　soft　jobs　for　'imself　and　leave　all　the　rough　for　others；　the　fact　that　we　might　do　the　same　if　we　'ad　the　chance　don't　make　it　right。'

‘No　one　can　be　blamed　for　doing　the　best　he　can　for　himself　under　existing　circumstances；'　said　Owen　in　reply　to　Slyme's　questioning　look。　　That　is　the　principle　of　the　present　system　…　every　man　for　himself　and　the　devil　take　the　rest。　　For　my　own　part　I　don't　pretend　to　practise　unselfishness。　　I　don't　pretend　to　guide　my　actions　by　the　rules　laid　down　in　the　Sermon　on　the　Mount。　　But　it's　certainly　surprising　to　hear　you　who　profess　to　be　a　follower　of　Christ　…　advocating　selfishness。　　Or；　rather；　it　would　be　surprising　if　it　were　not　that　the　name　of　〃Christian〃　has　ceased　to　signify　one　who　follows　Christ；　and　has　come　to　mean　only　liar　and　hypocrite。'

Slyme　made　no　answer。　　Possibly　the　fact　that　he　was　a　true　believer　enabled　him　to　bear　this　insult　with　meekness　and　humility。

‘I　wonder　what　time　it　is？'　interposed　Philpot。

Slyme　looked　at　his　watch。　　It　was　nearly　ten　o'clock。

‘Jesus　Christ！　　Is　that　all？'　growled　Easton　as　they　returned　to　work。　‘Two　hours　more　before　dinner！'

Only　two　more　hours；　but　to　these　miserable；　half…starved；　ill…clad　wretches；　standing　here　in　the　bitter　wind　that　pierced　their　clothing　and　seemed　to　be　tearing　at　their　very　hearts　and　lungs　with　icy　fingers；　it　appeared　like　an　eternity。　　To　judge　by　the　eagerness　with　which　they　longed　for　dinner…time；　one　might　have　thought　they　had　some　glorious　banquet　to　look　forward　to　instead　of　bread　and　cheese　and　onions；　or　bloaters　…　and　stewed　tea。

Two　more　hours　of　torture　before　dinner；　and　three　more　hours　after　that。　　And　then；　thank　God；　it　would　be　too　dark　to　see　to　work　any　longer。

It　would　have　been　much　better　for　them　if；　instead　of　being　‘Freemen'；　they　had　been　slaves；　and　the　property；　instead　of　the　hirelings；　of　Mr　Rushton。　　As　it　was；　HE　would　not　have　cared　if　one　or　all　of　them　had　become　ill　or　died　from　the　effects　of　exposure。　It　would　have　made　no　difference　to　him。　　There　were　plenty　of　others　out　of　work　and　on　the　verge　of　starvation　who　would　be　very　glad　to　take　their　places。　　But　if　they　had　been　Rushton's　property；　such　work　as　this　would　have　been　deferred　until　it　could　be　done　without　danger　to　the　health　and　lives　of　the　slaves；　or　at　any　rate；　even　if　it　were　proceeded　with　during　such　weather；　their　owner　would　have　seen　to　it　that　they　were　properly　clothed　and　fed；　he　would　have　taken　as　much　care　of　them　as　he　would　of　his　horse。

People　always　take　great　care　of　their　horses。　　If　they　were　to　overwork　a　horse　and　make　it　ill；　it　would　cost　something　for　medicine　and　the　veterinary　surgeon；　to　say　nothing　of　the　animal's　board　and　lodging。　　If　they　were　to　work　their　horses　to　death；　they　would　have　to　buy　others。　　But　none　of　these　considerations　applies　to　workmen。　If　they　work　a　man　to　death　they　can　get　anoth