the ragged trousered philanthropists-第31章

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e　enterprise；　he　stood　silently　by　himself　for　some　seconds　in　the　drawing…room。　　This　was　a　spacious　and　lofty　apartment　with　a　large　semicircular　bay　window。　Round　the　ceiling　was　a　deep　cornice。　　In　the　semi…darkness　the　room　appeared　to　be　of　even　greater　proportions　than　it　really　was。　　After　standing　thinking　in　this　room　for　a　little　while；　Hunter　turned　and　strode　out　to　the　kitchen；　where　the　men　were　preparing　to　go　home。　Owen　was　taking　off　his　blouse　and　apron　as　the　other　entered。　　Hunter　addressed　him　with　a　malevolent　snarl：

‘You　can　call　at　the　office　tonight　as　you　go　home。'

Owen's　heart　seemed　to　stop　beating。　　All　the　petty　annoyances　he　had　endured　from　Hunter　rushed　into　his　memory；　together　with　what　Easton　had　told　him　that　morning。　　He　stood；　still　and　speechless；　holding　his　apron　in　his　hand　and　staring　at　the　manager。

‘What　for？'　he　ejaculated　at　length。　　‘What's　the　matter？'

‘You'll　find　out　what　you're　wanted　for　when　you　get　there；'　returned　Hunter　as　he　went　out　of　the　room　and　away　from　the　house。

When　he　was　gone　a　dead　silence　prevailed。　　The　hands　ceased　their　preparations　for　departure　and　looked　at　each　other　and　at　Owen　in　astonishment。　　To　stand　a　man　off　like　that　…　when　the　job　was　not　half　finished　…　and　for　no　apparent　reason：　and　of　a　Monday；　too。　　It　was　unheard　of。　　There　was　a　general　chorus　of　indignation。　　Harlow　and　Philpot　especially　were　very　wroth。

‘If　it　comes　to　that；'　Harlow　shouted；　‘they've　got　no　bloody　right　to　do　it！　　We're　entitled　to　an　hour's　notice。'

‘Of　course　we　are！'　cried　Philpot；　his　goggle　eyes　rolling　wildly　with　wrath。　　‘And　I　should　'ave　it　too；　if　it　was　me。　　You　take　my　tip；　Frank：　CHARGE　UP　TO　SIX　O'CLOCK　on　yer　time　sheet　and　get　some　of　your　own　back。'

Everyone　joined　in　the　outburst　of　indignant　protest。　　Everyone；　that　is；　except　Crass　and　Slyme。　　But　then　they　were　not　exactly　in　the　kitchen：　they　were　out　in　the　scullery　putting　their　things　away；　and　so　it　happened　that　they　said　nothing；　although　they　exchanged　significant　looks。

Owen　had　by　this　time　recovered　his　self…possession。　　He　collected　all　his　tools　and　put　them　with　his　apron　and　blouse　into　his　tool…bag　with　the　purpose　of　taking　them　with　him　that　night；　but　on　reflection　he　resolved　not　to　do　so。　　After　all；　it　was　not　absolutely　certain　that　he　was　going　to　be　‘stood　off'：　possibly　they　were　going　to　send　him　on　some　other　job。

They　kept　all　together　…　some　walking　on　the　pavement　and　some　in　the　road　…　until　they　got　down　town；　and　then　separated。　　Crass；　Sawkins；　Bundy　and　Philpot　adjourned　to　the　‘Cricketers'　for　a　drink；　Newman　went　on　by　himself；　Slyme　accompanied　Easton　who　had　arranged　with　him　to　come　that　night　to　see　the　bedroom；　and　Owen　went　in　the　direction　of　the　office。



Chapter　11

Hands　and　Brains


Rushton　&　Co。's　premises　were　situated　in　one　of　the　principal　streets　of　Mugsborough　and　consisted　of　a　double…fronted　shop　with　plate　glass　windows。　　The　shop　extended　right　through　to　the　narrow　back　street　which　ran　behind　it。　　The　front　part　of　the　shop　was　stocked　with　wall…hangings；　mouldings；　stands　showing　patterns　of　embossed　wall　and　ceiling　decorations；　cases　of　brushes；　tins　of　varnish　and　enamel；　and　similar　things。

The　office　was　at　the　rear　and　was　separated　from　the　rest　of　the　shop　by　a　partition；　glazed　with　muranese　obscured　glass。　　This　office　had　two　doors；　one　in　the　partition；　giving　access　to　the　front　shop；　and　the　other　by　the　side　of　the　window　and　opening　on　to　the　back　street。　The　glass　of　the　lower　sash　of　the　back　window　consisted　of　one　large　pane　on　which　was　painted　‘Rushton　&　Co。'　in　black　letters　on　a　white　ground。

Owen　stood　outside　this　window　for　two　or　three　seconds　before　knocking。　　There　was　a　bright　light　in　the　office。　　Then　he　knocked　at　the　door；　which　was　at　once　opened　from　the　inside　by　Hunter；　and　Owen　went　in。

Rushton　was　seated　in　an　armchair　at　his　desk；　smoking　a　cigar　and　reading　one　of　several　letters　that　were　lying　before　him。　　At　the　back　was　a　large　unframed　photograph　of　the　size　known　as　half…plate　of　the　interior　of　some　building。　　At　another　desk；　or　rather　table；　at　the　other　side　of　the　office；　a　young　woman　was　sitting　writing　in　a　large　ledger。　　There　was　a　typewriting　machine　on　the　table　at　her　side。

Rushton　glanced　up　carelessly　as　Owen　came　in；　but　took　no　further　notice　of　him。

‘Just　wait　a　minute；'　Hunter　said　to　Owen；　and　then；　after　conversing　in　a　low　tone　with　Rushton　for　a　few　minutes；　the　foreman　put　on　his　hat　and　went　out　of　the　office　through　the　partition　door　which　led　into　the　front　shop。

Owen　stood　waiting　for　Rushton　to　speak。　　He　wondered　why　Hunter　had　sneaked　off　and　felt　inclined　to　open　the　door　and　call　him　back。　　One　thing　he　was　determined　about：　he　meant　to　have　some　explanation：　he　would　not　submit　tamely　to　be　dismissed　without　any　just　reason。

When　he　had　finished　reading　the　letter；　Rushton　looked　up；　and；　leaning　comfortably　back　in　his　chair；　he　blew　a　cloud　of　smoke　from　his　cigar；　and　said　in　an　affable；　indulgent　tone；　such　as　one　might　use　to　a　child：

‘You're　a　bit　of　a　hartist；　ain't　yer？'

Owen　was　so　surprised　at　this　reception　that　he　was　for　the　moment　unable　to　reply。

‘You　know　what　I　mean；'　continued　Rushton；　‘decorating　work；　something　like　them　samples　of　yours　what's　hanging　up　there。'

He　noticed　the　embarrassment　of　Owen's　manner；　and　was　gratified。　　He　thought　the　man　was　confused　at　being　spoken　to　by　such　a　superior　person　as　himself。

Mr　Rushton　was　about　thirty…five　years　of　age；　with　light　grey　eyes；　fair　hair　and　moustache；　and　his　complexion　was　a　whitey　drab。　　He　was　tall　…　about　five　feet　ten　inches　…　and　rather　clumsily　built；　not　corpulent；　but　fat　…　in　good　condition。　　He　appeared　to　be　very　well　fed　and　well　cared　for　generally。　　His　clothes　were　well　made；　of　good　quality　and　fitted　him　perfectly。　　He　was　dressed　in　a　grey　Norfolk　suit；　dark　brown　boots　and　knitted　woollen　stockings　reaching　to　the　knee。

He　was　a　man　who　took　himself　very　seriously。　　There　was　an　air　of　pomposity　and　arrogant　importance　about　him　which　…　considering　who　and　what　he　was　…　would　have　been　entertaining　to　any　observer　gifted　with　a　sense　of　humour。

‘Yes；'　replied　Owen　at　last。　　‘I　can　do　a　little　of　that　sort　of　work；　although　of　course　I　don't　profess　to　be　able　to　do　it　as　well　or　as　quickly　as　a　man　who　does　nothing　else。'

‘Oh；　no；　of　course　not；　but　I　think　you　could　manage　this　all　right。　It's　that　drawing…room　at　the　‘Cave'。　　Mr　Sweater's　been　speaking　to　me　about　it。　　It　seems　that　when　he　was　over　in　Paris　some　time　since　he　saw　a　room　that　took　his　fancy。　　The　walls　and　ceiling　was　not　papered；　but　painted：　you　know　what　I　mean；　sort　of　panelled　out；　and　decorated　with　stencils　and　hand　painting。　　This　'ere's　a　photer　of　it：　it's　done　in　a　sort　of　JAPANESE　fashion。'

He　handed　the　photograph　to　Owen　as　he　spoke。　　It　represented　a　room；　the　walls　and　ceiling　of　which　were　decorated　in　a　Moorish　style。

‘At　first　Mr　Sweater　thought　of　getting　a　firm　from　London　to　do　it；　but　'e　gave　up　the　idear　on　account　of　the　expense；　but　if　you　can　do　it　so　that　it　doesn't　cost　too　much；　I　think　I　can　persuade　'im　to　go　in　for　it。　　But　if　it's　goin'　to　cost　a　lot　it　won't　come　off　at　all。　'E'll　just　'ave　a　frieze　put　up　and　'ave　the　room　papered　in　the　ordinary　way。'

This　was　not　true：　Rushton　said　it　in　case　Owen　might　want　to　be　paid　extra　wages　while　doing　the　work。　　The　truth　was　that　Sweater　was　going　to　have　the　room　decorated　in　any　case；　and　intended　to　get　a　London　firm　to　do　it。　　He　had　consented　rather　unwillingly　to　let　Rushton　&　Co。　submit　him　an　estimate；　because　he　thought　they　would　not　be　able　to　do　the　work　satisfactorily。

Owen　examined　the　photograph　closely。

‘Could　you　do　anything　like　that　in　that　room？'

‘Yes；　I　think　so；'　replied　Owen。

‘Well；　you　know；　I　don't　want　you　to　start　on　the　job　and　not　be　able　to　finish　it。　　Can　you　do　it　or　not？'

Rushton　felt　sure　that　Owen　could　do　it；　and　was　very　desirous　that　he　should　undertake　it；　but　he　did　not　want　him　to　know　that。　　He　wished　to　convey　the　impression　that　he　was　almost　indifferent　whether