As he walked homewards through the snow-storm, Owen began to realize that the consequence of what he had done would be that Rushton would not give him any more work, and as he reflected on all that this would mean to those at home, for a moment he doubted whether he had done right.But when he told Nora what had happened she said there were plenty of other firms in the town who would employ him - when they had the work.He had done without Rushton before and could do so again;for her part - whatever the consequences might be - she was glad that he had acted as he did.
`We'll get through somehow, I suppose,' said Owen, wearily.`There's not much chance of getting a job anywhere else just now, but I shall try to get some work on my own account.I shall do some samples of show-cards the same as I did last winter and try to get orders from some of the shops - they usually want something extra at this time, but I'm afraid it is rather too late: most of them already have all they want.'
`I shouldn't go out again today if I were you,' said Nora, noticing how ill he looked.`You should stay at home and read, or write up those minutes.'
The minutes referred to were those of the last meeting of the local branch of the Painters' Society, of which Owen was the secretary, and as the snow continued to fall, he occupied himself after dinner in the manner his wife suggested, until four o'clock, when Frankie returned from school bringing with him a large snowball, and crying out as a piece of good news that the snow was still falling heavily, and that he believed it was freezing!
They went to bed very early that night, for it was necessary to economize the coal, and not only that, but - because the rooms were so near the roof - it was not possible to keep the place warm no matter how much coal was used.The fire seemed, if anything, to make the place colder, for it caused the outer air to pour in through the joints of the ill-fitting doors and windows.
Owen lay awake for the greater part of the night.The terror of the future made rest or sleep impossible.He got up very early the next morning - long before it was light - and after lighting the fire, set about preparing the samples he had mentioned to Nora, but found that it would not be possible to do much in this direction without buying more cardboard, for most of what he had was not in good condition.
They had bread and butter and tea for breakfast.Frankie had his in bed and it was decided to keep him away from school until after dinner because the weather was so very cold and his only pair of boots were so saturated with moisture from having been out in the snow the previous day.
`I shall make a few inquiries to see if there's any other work to be had before I buy the cardboard,' said Owen, `although I'm afraid it's not much use.'
Just as he was preparing to go out, the front door bell rang, and as he was going down to answer it he saw Bert White coming upstairs.The boy was carrying a flat, brown-paper parcel under his arm.
`A corfin plate,' he explained as he arrived at the door.`Wanted at once - Misery ses you can do it at 'ome, an' I've got to wait for it.'
Owen and his wife looked at each other with intense relief.So he was not to be dismissed after all.It was almost too good to be true.
`There's a piece of paper inside the parcel with the name of the party what's dead,' continued Bert, `and here's a little bottle of Brunswick black for you to do the inscription with.'
`Did he send any other message?'
`Yes: he told me to tell you there's a job to be started Monday morning -a couple of rooms to be done out somewhere.Got to be finished by Thursday; and there's another job 'e wants you to do this afternoon -after dinner - so you've got to come to the yard at one o'clock.'Etold me to tell you 'e meant to leave a message for you yesterday morning, but 'e forgot.'
`What did he say to you about the fire - anything?'
`Yes: they both of 'em came about an hour after you went away - Misery and the Bloke too - but they didn't kick up a row.I wasn't arf frightened, I can tell you, when I saw 'em both coming, but they was quite nice.The Bloke ses to me, "Ah, that's right, my boy," 'e ses.
"Keep up a good fire.I'm going to send you some coke," 'e ses.And then they 'ad a look round and 'e told Sawkins to put some new panes of glass where the winder was broken, and - you know that great big packing-case what was under the truck shed?'
`Yes.'
`Well, 'e told Sawkins to saw it up and cover over the stone floor of the paint-shop with it.It ain't 'arf all right there now.I've cleared out all the muck from under the benches and we've got two sacks of coke sent from the gas-works, and the Bloke told me when that's all used up I've got to get a order orf Miss Wade for another lot.'
At one o'clock Owen was at the yard, where he saw Misery, who instructed him to go to the front shop and paint some numbers on the racks where the wallpapers were stored.Whilst he was doing this work Rushton came in and greeted him in a very friendly way.
`I'm very glad you let me know about the boy working in that paint-shop,' he observed after a few preliminary remarks.`I can assure you as I don't want the lad to be uncomfortable, but you know Ican't attend to everything myself.I'm much obliged to you for telling me about it; I think you did quite right; I should have done the same myself.'
Owen did not know what to reply, but Rushton walked off without waiting...
