The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists [34]
rushing all over the table, darting madly from one plate to another, seeking something to eat.
The children screamed with delight. Their grandmother was filled with a feeling of superstitious alarm. Linden and the young woman stood staring with astonishment at the unexpected visitor.
Before the kitten had time to do any damage, Owen caught hold of it and, despite its struggles, lifted it off the table.
`I found it in the street as I was coming along,' he said. `It seems to be starving.'
`Poor little thing. I'll give it something.' exclaimed the young woman.
She put some milk and bread into a saucer for it and the kitten ate ravenously, almost upsetting the saucer in its eagerness, much to the amusement of the two children, who stood by watching it admiringly.
Their mother now handed Owen a cup of tea. Linden insisted on his sitting down and then began to talk about Hunter.
`You know I HAD to spend some time on them doors to make 'em look anything at all; but it wasn't the time I took, or even the smoking what made 'im go on like that. He knows very well the time it takes. The real reason is that he thinks I was gettin' too much money. Work is done so rough nowadays that chaps like Sawkins is good enough for most of it. Hunter shoved me off just because I was getting the top money, and you'll see I won't be the only one.'
`I'm afraid you're right,' returned Owen. `Did you see Rushton when you went for your money?'
`Yes,' replied Linden. `I hurried up as fast as I could, but Hunter was there first. He passed me on his bike before I got half-way, so I suppose he told his tale before I came. Anyway, when I started to speak to Mr Rushton he wouldn't listen. Said he couldn't interfere between Mr Hunter and the men.#
`Ah! They're a bad lot, them two,' said the old woman, shaking her head sagely. `But it'll all come 'ome to 'em, you'll see. They'll never prosper. The Lord will punish them.'
Owen did not feel very confident of that. Most of the people he knew who had prospered were very similar in character to the two worthies in question. However, he did not want to argue with this poor old woman.
`When Tom was called up to go to the war,' said the young woman, bitterly, 'Mr Rushton shook hands with him and promised to give him a job when he came back. But now that poor Tom's gone and they know that me and the children's got no one to look to but Father, they do THIS.'
Although at the mention of her dead son's name old Mrs Linden was evidently distressed, she was still mindful of the Atheist's presence, and hastened to rebuke her daughter-in-law.
`You shouldn't say we've got no one to look to, Mary,' she said. `We're not as them who are without God and without hope in the world. The Lord is our shepherd. He careth for the widow and the fatherless.'
Owen was very doubtful about this also. He had seen so many badly cared-for children about the streets lately, and what he remembered of his own sorrowful childhood was all evidence to the contrary.
An awkward silence succeeded. Owen did not wish to continue this conversation: he was afraid that he might say something that would hurt the old woman. Besides, he was anxious to get away; he began to feel cold in his wet clothes.
As he put his empty cup on the table he said:
`Well, I must be going. They'll be thinking I'm lost, at home.'
The kitten had finished all the bread and milk and was gravely washing its face with one of its forepaws, to the great admiration of the two children, who were sitting on the floor beside it. It was an artful-looking kitten, all black, with a very large head and a very small body. It reminded Owen of a tadpole.
`Do you like cats?' he asked, addressing the children.
`Yes,' said the boy. `Give it to us, will you, mister?'
`Oh, do leave it 'ere, mister,' exclaimed the little girl. `I'll look after it.'
`So will I,' said the boy .
`But haven't you one of your own?' asked Owen.
`Yes; we've got a big one.'
`Well, if you have one already and I give you this,
The children screamed with delight. Their grandmother was filled with a feeling of superstitious alarm. Linden and the young woman stood staring with astonishment at the unexpected visitor.
Before the kitten had time to do any damage, Owen caught hold of it and, despite its struggles, lifted it off the table.
`I found it in the street as I was coming along,' he said. `It seems to be starving.'
`Poor little thing. I'll give it something.' exclaimed the young woman.
She put some milk and bread into a saucer for it and the kitten ate ravenously, almost upsetting the saucer in its eagerness, much to the amusement of the two children, who stood by watching it admiringly.
Their mother now handed Owen a cup of tea. Linden insisted on his sitting down and then began to talk about Hunter.
`You know I HAD to spend some time on them doors to make 'em look anything at all; but it wasn't the time I took, or even the smoking what made 'im go on like that. He knows very well the time it takes. The real reason is that he thinks I was gettin' too much money. Work is done so rough nowadays that chaps like Sawkins is good enough for most of it. Hunter shoved me off just because I was getting the top money, and you'll see I won't be the only one.'
`I'm afraid you're right,' returned Owen. `Did you see Rushton when you went for your money?'
`Yes,' replied Linden. `I hurried up as fast as I could, but Hunter was there first. He passed me on his bike before I got half-way, so I suppose he told his tale before I came. Anyway, when I started to speak to Mr Rushton he wouldn't listen. Said he couldn't interfere between Mr Hunter and the men.#
`Ah! They're a bad lot, them two,' said the old woman, shaking her head sagely. `But it'll all come 'ome to 'em, you'll see. They'll never prosper. The Lord will punish them.'
Owen did not feel very confident of that. Most of the people he knew who had prospered were very similar in character to the two worthies in question. However, he did not want to argue with this poor old woman.
`When Tom was called up to go to the war,' said the young woman, bitterly, 'Mr Rushton shook hands with him and promised to give him a job when he came back. But now that poor Tom's gone and they know that me and the children's got no one to look to but Father, they do THIS.'
Although at the mention of her dead son's name old Mrs Linden was evidently distressed, she was still mindful of the Atheist's presence, and hastened to rebuke her daughter-in-law.
`You shouldn't say we've got no one to look to, Mary,' she said. `We're not as them who are without God and without hope in the world. The Lord is our shepherd. He careth for the widow and the fatherless.'
Owen was very doubtful about this also. He had seen so many badly cared-for children about the streets lately, and what he remembered of his own sorrowful childhood was all evidence to the contrary.
An awkward silence succeeded. Owen did not wish to continue this conversation: he was afraid that he might say something that would hurt the old woman. Besides, he was anxious to get away; he began to feel cold in his wet clothes.
As he put his empty cup on the table he said:
`Well, I must be going. They'll be thinking I'm lost, at home.'
The kitten had finished all the bread and milk and was gravely washing its face with one of its forepaws, to the great admiration of the two children, who were sitting on the floor beside it. It was an artful-looking kitten, all black, with a very large head and a very small body. It reminded Owen of a tadpole.
`Do you like cats?' he asked, addressing the children.
`Yes,' said the boy. `Give it to us, will you, mister?'
`Oh, do leave it 'ere, mister,' exclaimed the little girl. `I'll look after it.'
`So will I,' said the boy .
`But haven't you one of your own?' asked Owen.
`Yes; we've got a big one.'
`Well, if you have one already and I give you this,