The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists [85]
chance. I've spoke to 'im several times myself about not doin' enough, but it don't seem to make no difference.'
`I've 'ad me eye on 'im meself for some time,' replied Nimrod in the same tone. `Anybody would think the work was goin' to be sent to a Exhibition, the way 'e messes about with it, rubbing it with glasspaper and stopping up every little crack! I can't understand where 'e gets all the glasspaper FROM'
`'E brings it 'isself!' said Crass hoarsely. `I know for a fact that 'e bought two 'a'penny sheets of it, last week out of 'is own money!'
`Oh, 'e did, did 'e?' snarled Misery. `I'll give 'im glasspaper! I'll 'ave a Alteration!'
He went into the hall, where he remained alone for a considerable time, brooding. At last, with the manner of one who has resolved on a certain course of action, he turned and entered the room where Philpot and Harlow were working.
`You both get sevenpence an hour, don't you?' he said.
They both replied to the affirmative.
`I've never worked under price yet,' added Harlow.
`Nor me neither,' observed Philpot.
`Well, of course you can please yourselves,' Hunter continued, `but after this week we've decided not to pay more than six and a half. Things is cut so fine nowadays that we can't afford to go on payin' sevenpence any longer. You can work up till tomorrow night on the old terms, but if you're not willin' to accept six and a half you needn't come on Saturday morning. Please yourselves. Take it or leave it.'
Harlow and Philpot were both too much astonished to say anything in reply to this cheerful announcement, and Hunter, with the final remark, `You can think it over,' left them and went to deliver the same ultimatum to all the other full-price men, who took it in the same way as Philpot and Harlow had done. Crass and Owen were the only two whose wages were not reduced.
It will be remembered that Newman was one of those who were already working for the reduced rate. Misery found him alone in one of the upper rooms, to which he was giving the final coat. He was at his old tricks. The woodwork of the cupboard be was doing was in a rather damaged condition, and he was facing up the dents with white-lead putty before painting it. He knew quite well that Hunter objected to any but very large holes or cracks being stopped, and yet somehow or other he could not scamp the work to the extent that he was ordered to; and so, almost by stealth, he was in the habit of doing it - not properly but as well as he dared. He even went to the length of occasionally buying a few sheets of glasspaper with his own money, as Crass had told Hunter. When the latter came into the room he stood with a sneer on his face, watching Newman for about five minutes before he spoke. The workman became very nervous and awkward under this scrutiny.
`You can make out yer time-sheet and come to the office for yer money at five o'clock,' said Nimrod at last. `We shan't require your valuable services no more after tonight.'
Newman went white.
`Why, what's wrong?' said he. `What have I done?'
`Oh, it's not wot you've DONE,' replied Misery. `It's wot you've not done. That's wot's wrong! You've not done enough, that's all!' And without further parley he turned and went out.
Newman stood in the darkening room feeling as if his heart had turned to lead. There rose before his mind the picture of his home and family. He could see them as they were at this very moment, the wife probably just beginning to prepare the evening meal, and the children setting the cups and saucers and other things on the kitchen table - a noisy work, enlivened with many a frolic and childish dispute. Even the two-year-old baby insisted on helping, although she always put everything in the wrong place and made all sorts of funny mistakes. They had all been so happy lately because they knew that he had work that would last till nearly Christmas - if not longer. And now this had happened - to plunge them back into the abyss of wretchedness from which they had so recently escaped. They
`I've 'ad me eye on 'im meself for some time,' replied Nimrod in the same tone. `Anybody would think the work was goin' to be sent to a Exhibition, the way 'e messes about with it, rubbing it with glasspaper and stopping up every little crack! I can't understand where 'e gets all the glasspaper FROM'
`'E brings it 'isself!' said Crass hoarsely. `I know for a fact that 'e bought two 'a'penny sheets of it, last week out of 'is own money!'
`Oh, 'e did, did 'e?' snarled Misery. `I'll give 'im glasspaper! I'll 'ave a Alteration!'
He went into the hall, where he remained alone for a considerable time, brooding. At last, with the manner of one who has resolved on a certain course of action, he turned and entered the room where Philpot and Harlow were working.
`You both get sevenpence an hour, don't you?' he said.
They both replied to the affirmative.
`I've never worked under price yet,' added Harlow.
`Nor me neither,' observed Philpot.
`Well, of course you can please yourselves,' Hunter continued, `but after this week we've decided not to pay more than six and a half. Things is cut so fine nowadays that we can't afford to go on payin' sevenpence any longer. You can work up till tomorrow night on the old terms, but if you're not willin' to accept six and a half you needn't come on Saturday morning. Please yourselves. Take it or leave it.'
Harlow and Philpot were both too much astonished to say anything in reply to this cheerful announcement, and Hunter, with the final remark, `You can think it over,' left them and went to deliver the same ultimatum to all the other full-price men, who took it in the same way as Philpot and Harlow had done. Crass and Owen were the only two whose wages were not reduced.
It will be remembered that Newman was one of those who were already working for the reduced rate. Misery found him alone in one of the upper rooms, to which he was giving the final coat. He was at his old tricks. The woodwork of the cupboard be was doing was in a rather damaged condition, and he was facing up the dents with white-lead putty before painting it. He knew quite well that Hunter objected to any but very large holes or cracks being stopped, and yet somehow or other he could not scamp the work to the extent that he was ordered to; and so, almost by stealth, he was in the habit of doing it - not properly but as well as he dared. He even went to the length of occasionally buying a few sheets of glasspaper with his own money, as Crass had told Hunter. When the latter came into the room he stood with a sneer on his face, watching Newman for about five minutes before he spoke. The workman became very nervous and awkward under this scrutiny.
`You can make out yer time-sheet and come to the office for yer money at five o'clock,' said Nimrod at last. `We shan't require your valuable services no more after tonight.'
Newman went white.
`Why, what's wrong?' said he. `What have I done?'
`Oh, it's not wot you've DONE,' replied Misery. `It's wot you've not done. That's wot's wrong! You've not done enough, that's all!' And without further parley he turned and went out.
Newman stood in the darkening room feeling as if his heart had turned to lead. There rose before his mind the picture of his home and family. He could see them as they were at this very moment, the wife probably just beginning to prepare the evening meal, and the children setting the cups and saucers and other things on the kitchen table - a noisy work, enlivened with many a frolic and childish dispute. Even the two-year-old baby insisted on helping, although she always put everything in the wrong place and made all sorts of funny mistakes. They had all been so happy lately because they knew that he had work that would last till nearly Christmas - if not longer. And now this had happened - to plunge them back into the abyss of wretchedness from which they had so recently escaped. They