the ragged trousered philanthropists-第28章

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w；　heavy；　ponderous　footsteps；　but　yet　the　sound　was　not　such　as　would　be　made　by　a　man　heavily　shod。　　It　was　not　Misery；　evidently。

As　the　footsteps　entered　the　kitchen；　Crass　looked　round　and　beheld　a　very　tall；　obese　figure；　with　a　large；　fleshy；　coarse…featured；　clean…shaven　face；　and　a　great　double　chin；　the　complexion　being　of　the　colour　and　appearance　of　the　fat　of　uncooked　bacon。　　A　very　large　fleshy　nose　and　weak…looking　pale　blue　eyes；　the　slightly　inflamed　lids　being　almost　destitute　of　eye…lashes。　　He　had　large　fat　feet　cased　in　soft　calfskin　boots；　with　drab…coloured　spats。　　His　overcoat；　heavily　trimmed　with　sealskin；　reached　just　below　the　knees；　and　although　the　trousers　were　very　wide　they　were　filled　by　the　fat　legs　within；　the　shape　of　the　calves　being　distinctly　perceptible。　　Even　as　the　feet　seemed　about　to　burst　the　uppers　of　the　boots；　so　the　legs　appeared　to　threaten　the　trousers　with　disruption。　　This　man　was　so　large　that　his　figure　completely　filled　up　the　doorway；　and　as　he　came　in　he　stooped　slightly　to　avoid　damaging　the　glittering　silk　hat　on　his　head。　　One　gloved　hand　was　thrust　into　the　pocket　of　the　overcoat　and　in　the　other　he　carried　a　small　Gladstone　bag。

When　Crass　beheld　this　being；　he　touched　his　cap　respectfully。

‘Good　morning；　sir！'

‘Good　morning。　　They　told　me　upstairs　that　I　should　find　the　foreman　here。　　Are　you　the　foreman？'

‘Yes；　sir。'

‘I　see　you're　getting　on　with　the　work　here。'

‘Ho　yes　sir；　we're　beginning　to　make　a　bit　hov　a　show　now；　sir；'　replied　Crass；　speaking　as　if　he　had　a　hot　potato　in　his　mouth。

‘Mr　Rushton　isn't　here　yet；　I　suppose？'

‘No；　sir：　'e　don't　horfun　come　hon　the　job　hin　the　mornin；　sir；　'e　generally　comes　hafternoons；　sir；　but　Mr　'Unter's　halmost　sure　to　be　'ere　presently；　sir。'

‘It's　Mr　Rushton　I　want　to　see：　I　arranged　to　meet　him　here　at　ten　o'clock；　but'　…　looking　at　his　watch　…　‘I'm　rather　before　my　time。'

‘He'll　be　here　presently；　I　suppose；'　added　Mr　Sweater。　　‘I'll　just　take　a　look　round　till　he　comes。'

‘Yes；　sir；'　responded　Crass；　walking　behind　him　obsequiously　as　he　went　out　of　the　room。

Hoping　that　the　gentleman　might　give　him　a　shilling；　Crass　followed　him　into　the　front　hall　and　began　explaining　what　progress　had　so　far　been　made　with　the　work；　but　as　Mr　Sweater　answered　only　by　monosyllables　and　grunts；　Crass　presently　concluded　that　his　conversation　was　not　appreciated　and　returned　to　the　kitchen。

Meantime；　upstairs；　Philpot　had　gone　into　Newman's　room　and　was　discussing　with　him　the　possibility　of　extracting　from　Mr　Sweater　the　price　of　a　little　light　refreshment。

‘I　think；'　he　remarked；　‘that　we　oughter　see…ise　this　'ere　tuneropperty　to　touch　'im　for　an　allowance。'

‘We　won't　git　nothin'　out　of　'IM；　mate；'　returned　Newman。　　‘'E's　a　red…'ot　teetotaller。'

‘That　don't　matter。　　'Ow's　'e　to　know　that　we　buys　beer　with　it？　　We　might　'ave　tea；　or　ginger　ale；　or　lime…juice　and　glycerine　for　all　'e　knows！'

Mr　Sweater　now　bgan　ponderously　re…ascending　the　stairs　and　presently　came　into　the　room　where　Philpot　was。　　The　latter　greeted　him　with　respectful　cordiality：

‘Good　morning；　sir。'

‘Good　morning。　　You've　begun　painting　up　here；　then。'

‘Yes；　sir；　we've　made　a　start　on　it；'　replied　Philpot；　affably。

‘Is　this　door　wet？'　asked　Sweater；　glancing　apprehensively　at　the　sleeve　of　his　coat。

‘Yes；　sir；'　answered　Philpot；　and　added；　as　he　looked　meaningly　at　the　great　man；　‘the　paint　is　wet；　sir；　but　the　PAINTERS　is　dry。'

‘Confound　it！'　exclaimed　Sweater；　ignoring；　or　not　hearing　the　latter　part　of　Philpot's　reply。　　‘I've　got　some　of　the　beastly　stuff　on　my　coat　sleeve。'

‘Oh；　that's　nothing；　sir；'　cried　Philpot；　secretly　delighted。　　‘I'll　get　that　orf　for　yer　in　no　time。　　You　wait　just　'arf　a　mo！'

He　had　a　piece　of　clean　rag　in　his　tool　bag；　and　there　was　a　can　of　turps　in　the　room。　　Moistening　the　rag　slightly　with　turps　he　carefully　removed　the　paint　from　Sweater's　sleeve。

‘It's　all　orf　not；　sir；'　he　remarked；　as　he　rubbed　the　place　with　a　dry　part　of　the　rag。　　‘The　smell　of　the　turps　will　go　away　in　about　a　hour's　time。'

‘Thanks；'　said　Sweater。

Philpot　looked　at　him　wistfully；　but　Sweater　evidently　did　not　understand；　and　began　looking　about　the　room。

‘I　see　they've　put　a　new　piece　of　skirting　here；'　he　observed。

‘Yes；　sir；'　said　Newman；　who　came　into　the　room　just　then　to　get　the　turps。　　‘The　old　piece　was　all　to　bits　with　dry…rot。'

‘I　feel　as　if　I　'ad　a　touch　of　the　dry…rot　meself；　don't　you？'　said　Philpot　to　Newman；　who　smiled　feebly　and　cast　a　sidelong　glance　at　Sweater；　who　did　not　appear　to　notice　the　significance　of　the　remark；　but　walked　out　of　the　room　and　began　climbing　up　to　the　next　floor；　where　Harlow　and　Sawkins　were　working。

‘Well；　there's　a　bleeder　for　yer！'　said　Philpot　with　indignation。　‘After　all　the　trouble　I　took　to　clean　'is　coat！　　Not　a　bloody　stiver！　Well；　it　takes　the　cake；　don't　it？'

‘I　told　you　'ow　it　would　be；　didn't　I？'　replied　Newman。

‘P'raps　I　didn't　make　it　plain　enough；'　said　Philpot；　thoughtfully。　‘We　must　try　to　get　some　of　our　own　back　somehow；　you　know。'

Going　out　on　the　landing　he　called　softly　upstairs。

‘I　say；　Harlow。'

‘Hallo；'　said　that　individual；　looking　over　the　banisters。

‘'Ow　are　yer　getting　on　up　there？'

‘Oh；　all　right；　you　know。'

‘Pretty　dry　job；　ain't　it？'　Philpot　continued；　raising　his　voice　a　little　and　winking　at　Harlow。

‘Yes；　it　is；　rather；'　replied　Harlow　with　a　grin。

‘I　think　this　would　be　a　very　good　time　to　take　up　the　collection；　don't　you？'

‘Yes；　it　wouldn't　be　a　bad　idear。'

‘Well；　I'll　put　me　cap　on　the　stairs；'　said　Philpot；　suiting　the　action　to　the　word。　　‘You　never　knows　yer　luck。　　Things　is　gettin'　a　bit　serious　on　this　floor；　you　know；　my　mate's　fainted　away　once　already！'

Philpot　now　went　back　to　his　room　to　await　developments：　but　as　Sweater　made　no　sign；　he　returned　to　the　landing　and　again　hailed　Harlow。

‘I　always　reckon　a　man　can　work　all　the　better　after　'e's　'ad　a　drink：　you　can　seem　to　get　over　more　of　it；　like。'

‘Oh；　that's　true　enough；'　responded　Harlow。　　‘I've　often　noticed　it　meself。'

Sweater　came　out　of　the　front　bedroom　and　passed　into　one　of　the　back　rooms　without　any　notice　of　either　of　the　men。

‘I'm　afraid　it's　a　frost；　mate；'　Harlow　whispered；　and　Philpot；　shaking　his　head　sadly；　returned　to　work；　but　in　a　little　while　he　came　out　again　and　once　more　accosted　Harlow。

‘I　knowed　a　case　once；'　he　said　in　a　melancholy　tone；　‘where　a　chap　died　…　of　thirst　…　on　a　job　just　like　this；　and　at　the　inquest　the　doctor　said　as　'arf　a　pint　would　'a　saved　'im！'

‘It　must　'ave　been　a　norrible　death；'　remarked　Harlow。

‘'Orrible　ain't　the　work　for　it；　mate；'　replied　Philpot；　mournfully。　‘It　was　something　chronic！'

After　this　final　heartrending　appeal　to　Sweater's　humanity　they　returned　to　work；　satisfied　that；　whatever　the　result　of　their　efforts；　they　had　done　their　best。　　They　had　placed　the　matter　fully　and　fairly　before　him：　nothing　more　could　be　said：　the　issue　now　rested　entirely　with　him。

But　it　was　all　in　vain。　　Sweater　either　did　not　or　would　not　understand；　and　when　he　came　downstairs　he　took　no　notice　whatever　of　the　cap　which　Philpot　had　placed　so　conspicuously　in　the　centre　of　the　landing　floor。



Chapter　9

Who　is　to　Pay？


Sweater　reached　the　hall　almost　at　the　same　moment　that　Rushton　entered　by　the　front　door。　　They　greeted　each　other　in　a　friendly　way　and　after　a　few　remarks　concerning　the　work　that　was　being　done；　they　went　into　the　drawing…room　where　Owen　and　Easton　were　and　Rushton　said：

‘What　about　this　room？　　Have　you　made　up　your　mind　what　you're　going　to　have　done　to　it？'

‘Yes；'　replied　Sweater；　‘but　I'll　tell　you　about　that　afterwards。　What　I'm　anxious　about　is　the　drains。　　Have　you　brought　the　plans？'

‘Yes。'

‘What's　it　going　to　cost？'

‘Just　wait　a　minute；'　said　Rushton；　with　a　slight　gesture　calling　Sweater's　attention　to　the　presence　of　the　two　workmen。　　Sweater　understood。

‘You　might　leave　that　for　a　few　minutes；　will　you？'　Rushton　continued；　addressing　Owen　and　Easton。　　‘Go　and　get　on　with　something　else　for　a　little　while。'

When　they　were　alone；　Rushton　closed　the　door　and　rema