登陆注册
5383800000164

第164章

June During the early part of May the weather was exceptionally bad, with bitterly cold winds.Rain fell nearly every day, covering the roads with a slush that penetrated the rotten leather of the cheap or second-hand boots worn by the workmen.This weather had the effect of stopping nearly all outside work, and also caused a lot of illness, for those who were so fortunate as to have inside jobs frequently got wet through on their way to work in the morning and had to work all day in damp clothing, and with their boots saturated with water.It was also a source of trouble to those of the men who had allotments, because if it had been fine they would have been able to do something to their gardens while they were out of work.

Newman had not succeeded in getting a job at the trade since he came out of prison, but he tried to make a little money by hawking bananas.

Philpot - when he was at work - used often to buy a tanner's or a bob's worth from him and give them to Mrs Linden's children.On Saturdays Old Joe used to waylay these children and buy them bags of cakes at the bakers.One week when he knew that Mrs Linden had not had much work to do, he devised a very cunning scheme to help her.He had been working with Slyme, who was papering a large boarded ceiling in a shop.It had to be covered with unbleached calico before it could be papered and when the work was done there were a number of narrow pieces of calico left over.These he collected and tore into strips about six inches wide which he took round to Mrs Linden, and asked her to sew them together, end to end, so as to make one long strip: then this long strip had to be cut into four pieces of equal length and the edges sewn together in such a manner that it would form a long tube.Philpot told her that it was required for some work that Rushton's were doing, and said he had undertaken to get the sewing done.The firm would have to pay for it, so she could charge a good price.

`You see,' he said with a wink, `this is one of those jobs where we gets a chance to get some of our own back.'

Mary thought it was rather a strange sort of job, but she did as Philpot directed and when he came for the stuff and asked how much it was she said threepence: it had only taken about half an hour.

Philpot ridiculed this: it was not nearly enough.THEY were not supposed to know how long it took: it ought to be a bob at the very least.So, after some hesitation she made out a bill for that amount on a half-sheet of note-paper.He brought her the money the next Saturday afternoon and went off chuckling to himself over the success of the scheme.It did not occur to him until the next day that he might just as well have got her to make him an apron or two: and when he did think of this he said that after all it didn't matter, because if he had done that it would have been necessary to buy new calico, and anyhow, it could be done some other time.

Newman did not make his fortune out of the bananas - seldom more than two shillings a day - and consequently he was very glad when Philpot called at his house one evening and told him there was a chance of a job at Rushton's.Newman accordingly went to the yard the next morning, taking his apron and blouse and his bag of tools with him, ready to start work.He got there at about quarter to six and was waiting outside when Hunter arrived.The latter was secretly very glad to see him, for there was a rush of work in and they were short of men.He did not let this appear, of course, but hesitated for a few minutes when Newman repeated the usual formula: `Any chance of a job, sir?'

`We wasn't at all satisfied with you last time you was on, you know,'

said Misery.`Still, I don't mind giving you another chance.But if you want to hold your job you'll have to move yourself a bit quicker than you did before.'

Towards the end of the month things began to improve all round.The weather became finer and more settled.As time went on the improvement was maintained and nearly everyone was employed.

Rushton's were so busy that they took on several other old hands who had been sacked the previous year for being too slow.

Thanks to the influence of Crass, Easton was now regarded as one of the regular hands.He had recently resumed the practice of spending some of his evenings at the Cricketers.It is probable that even if it had not been for his friendship with Crass, he would still have continued to frequent the public house, for things were not very comfortable at home.Somehow or other, Ruth and he seemed to be always quarrelling, and he was satisfied that it was not always his fault.Sometimes, after the day's work was over he would go home resolved to be good friends with her: he would plan on his way homewards to suggest to her that they should have their tea and then go out for a walk with the child.Once or twice she agreed, but on each occasion, they quarrelled before they got home again.So after a time he gave up trying to be friends with her and went out by himself every evening as soon as he had had his tea.

Mary Linden, who was still lodging with them, could not help perceiving their unhappiness: she frequently noticed that Ruth's eyes were red and swollen as if with crying, and she gently sought to gain her confidence, but without success.On one occasion when Mary was trying to advise her, Ruth burst out into a terrible fit of weeping, but she would not say what was the cause - except that her head was aching - she was not well, that was all.

Sometimes Easton passed the evening at the Cricketers but frequently he went over to the allotments, where Harlow had a plot of ground.

同类推荐
  • 无门慧开禅师语录

    无门慧开禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 句

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 新官轨范

    新官轨范

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 如来师子吼经

    如来师子吼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE FIRST MEN IN THE MOON

    THE FIRST MEN IN THE MOON

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 康庄大道上

    康庄大道上

    《消防英雄》作者回忆如烟最新力作,献给最美扶贫工作者们!2015年康家庄被列为贫困村,范哲主动请缨来到这个被人嫌弃的村庄。在这里开便利店、建卫生所,成立百亩樱桃树种植基地,帮村民开养殖场,盖小学,通过四年的时间让康家庄从一个被人嫌弃的村庄发展成全市最富有的村庄。在脱贫攻坚战中他们坚持人民小事我大事,想人民所想,急人民所急,用行动证明走在康庄大道上,一个都不可以少。
  • 学生人道主义的教育

    学生人道主义的教育

    学生德育是指学校按照一定的社会道德要求,有目的、有计划、有系统地对学生进行思想、观念和道德等方面的影响,并通过学生积极的认识、体验与践行,使广大学生形成社会所需要的道德品质。学校德育教育的目标是德育工作的出发点,它不仅决定了学校德育的内容、形式和方法,而且制约着德育工作的基本过程。
  • 南方有乔木(白百何、陈伟霆主演)

    南方有乔木(白百何、陈伟霆主演)

    后来种种迹象表明,南乔和时樾在一起,都是出于本能,也早已注定。初始源于他对她说的一句话——“南小姐,说不定你很需要我。”是的,平安夜亲眼目睹男友出轨,分手后公司又被撤资,南乔很需要时樾。她抛弃了家族的庇护,只为在无人飞行器领域独闯一片天地。曾经十六岁的她,不知道改变她人生的那篇论文,给当时的时樾带来了怎样毁灭性的的打击。如今是南乔的坚持和信任,让时樾那颗离群索居了十二年的漂泊者之心,终于得了皈依。本能地在一起,因为他们是一类人。为了荣誉、理想而奋斗,又爱得不遗余力。
  • 都市之不死天尊

    都市之不死天尊

    在血海中崛起,从寂灭中复苏,当雷霆划破长空,叶轩从血海中走出……PS:本书主角冷酷无情,本书不圣母,不见女跪,这是一个血海大魔王回归都市的故事,也许……本书有你想要东西
  • 魅灵之书

    魅灵之书

    九州之上,六族纷乱。人族聪慧,夸父骁勇,河络狂热,鲛人优美,羽人翱行。魅族孤零,无父无母,精神凝聚,化为实体。他们外表与人无异,却始终,非我族类。夸父西行,打响了一场种族间持久的战争。恶灵横行,揭秘深埋在古老庄园里的秘密。魅灵一书,书写着魅族悲伤的过去与未来。鬼谷之上,鲜花与毒蛇,似是他们生而为魅的宿命。狄弦与童舟,两个相依为命的魅,携手走过那些故事,最后把轮回看透。“这是我早就猜到的结局,你不必内疚,要怪只能怪我们生而为魅。”
  • 白骨精是怎么修炼的

    白骨精是怎么修炼的

    白领+骨干+精英,是现代女性人人追逐的对象。这些不甘活在男人光芒背后的大女人,是再怎么收服老公和家庭的呢?
  • 专家传授宝宝健康成长方案(0~3岁)

    专家传授宝宝健康成长方案(0~3岁)

    本书作者马军,北京大学儿童青少年卫生研究所所长,教授,博士生导师。北京大学公共卫生学院妇女与儿少卫生学系副主任。作者根据婴有儿生长发育特点和中国国内婴儿养护经验,详细讲述了孩子从出生到3岁新手父母将会遇到的各种各样的养育问题。“宝宝的发育与进程”“宝宝的科学喂养”宝宝的常见疾病题”“新手爸爸行动指南”“连线育儿专家集锦”。其文中讲述的宝宝发育特点和养护方式极具中国特色,是真正的中国人自己的育儿经。
  • 复宗集

    复宗集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重生你是我的小狐狸

    重生你是我的小狐狸

    【凰尊第三部】世界五百强之一,幻姬集团的老总是她姐,世界第一杀手组织暗影的主人是她妹!只是,她宁愿封印记忆,却只为过上普通的生活,安安稳稳,谈场平淡的恋爱。但是,为什么?为什么要杀了她最重要的朋友?!为什么要逼着她再一次走上那条毁灭之路?她的觉醒,却是腥风血雨!她渴望力量,因为只有绝对的力量才能保护自己重要的东西!封印解开,仙魔纵横,挡我者,惑我者,伤我者,他们都只有一个归宿,那就是死!当我最后一根尾巴幻化,请允许我对你说:千古万世,至死不渝!
  • 明朝大博弈

    明朝大博弈

    本书是作者章宪法继《明朝大败局》之后又一研究明史的力作,将目光从朝堂之上转向更广阔的天地,民间富商、风流才子、航海先行者、旅行家等不一而足。尽可能立体地探索、还原明朝的细节与暗面,发掘最后一个汉人王朝鲜为人知的特质。以更为陌生的视角,重现历史人物跌宕人生;以显微镜式的剖析,还原历史细节与暗面,另辟蹊径再现大明王朝惊心动魄的权力博弈。