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The others became serious at once。
‘Although we've had a very rough time of it in our contest with the Gasworks Company； and although we've got the worst of it； it hasn't been all lavender for them； you know。 They've not enjoyed themselves either： we hit them pretty hard when we put up the coal dues。'
‘A damn good job too；' said Grinder malignantly。
‘Well；' continued Sweater； ‘they're just as sick of the fight as they want to be； because of course they don't know exactly how badly we've been hit。 For all they know； we could have continued the struggle indefinitely： and … well； to make a long story short； I've had a talk with the managing director and one or two others； and they're willing to let us in with them。 So that we can put the money we get for the Electric Light Works into gas shares！'
This was such splendid news that they had another drink on the strength of it； and Didlum said that one of the first things they would have to do would be to totally abolish the Coal Dues； because they pressed so hard on the poor。
Chapter 31
The Deserter
About the end of January； Slyme left Easton's。 The latter had not succeeded in getting anything to do since the work at ‘The Cave' was finished； and latterly the quality of the food had been falling off。 The twelve shillings Slyme paid for his board and lodging was all that Ruth had to keep house with。 She had tried to get some work to do herself； but generally without success； there were one or two jobs that she might have had if she had been able to give her whole time to them； but of course that was not possible； the child and the housework had to be attended to； and Slyme's meals had to be prepared。 Nevertheless； she contrived to get away several times when she had a chance of earning a few shillings by doing a day's charing for some lady or other； and then she left everything in such order at home that Easton was able to manage all right while she was away。 On these occasions； she usually left the baby with Owen's wife； who was an old schoolmate of hers。 Nora was the more willing to render her this service because Frankie used to be so highly delighted whenever it happened。 He never tired of playing with the child； and for several days afterwards he used to worry his mother with entreaties to buy a baby of their own。
Easton earned a few shillings occasionally； now and then he got a job to clean windows； and once or twice he did a few days' or hours' work with some other painter who had been fortunate enough to get a little job ‘on his own' … such as a ceiling to wash and whiten； or a room or two to paint； but such jobs were few。
Sometimes； when they were very hard up； they sold something； the Bible that used to lie on the little table in the bay window was one of the first things to be parted with。 Ruth erased the inscription from the fly…leaf and then they sold the book at a second…hand shop for two shillings。 As time went on； they sold nearly everything that was saleable； except of course； the things that were obtained on the hire system。
Slyme could see that they were getting very much into debt and behind with the rent； and on two occasions already Easton had borrowed five shillings from him； which he might never be able to pay back。 Another thing was that Slyme was always in fear that Ruth … who had never wholly abandoned herself to wrongdoing … might tell Easton what had happened； more than once she had talked of doing so； and the principal reason why she refrained was that she knew that even if he forgave her； he could never think the same of her as before。 Slyme repeatedly urged this view upon her； pointing out that no good could result from such a confession。
Latterly the house had become very uncomfortable。 It was not only that the food was bad and that sometimes there was no fire； but Ruth and Easton were nearly always quarrelling about something or other。 She scarcely spoke to Slyme at all； and avoided sitting at the table with him whenever possible。 He was in constant dread that Easton might notice her manner towards him； and seek for some explanation。 Altogether the situation was so unpleasant that Slyme determined to clear out。 He made the excuse that he had been offered a few weeks' work at a place some little distance outside the town。 After he was gone they lived for several weeks in semi…starvation on what credit they could get and by selling the furniture or anything else they possessed that could be turned into money。 The things out of Slyme's room were sold almost directly he left。
Chapter 32
The Veteran
Old Jack Linden had tried hard to earn a little money by selling bloaters； but they often went bad； and even when he managed to sell them all the profit was so slight that it was not worth doing。
Before the work at ‘The Cave' was finished； Philpot was a good friend to them； he frequently gave old Jack sixpence or a shilling and often brought a bag off cakes or buns for the children。 Sometimes he came to tea with them on Sundays as an excuse for bringing a tin of salmon。
Elsie and Charley frequently went to Owen's house to take tea with Frankie； in fact； whilst Owen had anything to do； they almost lived there； for both Owen and Nora； knowing that the Lindens had nothing to live on except the earnings of the young woman； encouraged the children to come often。
Old Jack made some hopeless attempts to get work … work of any kind； but nobody wanted him； and to make things worse； his eyesight； which had been failing for a long time； became very bad。 Once he was given a job by a big provision firm to carry an advertisement about the streets。 The man who had been carrying it before … an old soldier … had been sacked the previous day for getting drunk while on duty。 The advertisement was not an ordinary pair of sandwich boards； but a sort of box without any bottom or lid； a wooden frame； four sides covered with canvas； an which were pasted printed bills advertising margarine。 Each side of this box or frame was rather larger than an ordinary sandwich board。
Old Linden had to get inside this thing and carry it about the streets； two straps fixed across the top of the frame and passing one over each of his shoulders enabled him to carry it。 It swayed about a good deal as he walked along； especially when the wind caught it； but there were two handles inside to hold it steady by。 The pay was eighteenpence a day； and he had to travel a certain route； up and down the busiest streets。
At first the frame did not feel very heavy； but the weight seemed to increase as the time went on； and the straps hurt his shoulders。 He felt very much ashamed； also； whenever he encountered any of his old mates； some of whom laughed at him。
In consequence of the frame requiring so much attention to keep it steady； and being unused to the work； and his sight so bad； he several times narrowly escaped being run over。 Another thing that added to his embarrassment was the jeering of the other sandwichmen； the loafers outside the public houses； and the boys； who shouted ‘old Jack in the box' after him。 Sometimes the boys threw refuse at the frame； and once a decayed orange thrown by one of them knocked his ha