按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
uth 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。 Harlow used to get up about four o'clock in the morning and put in an hour or so at his garden before going to work； and every evening as soon as he had finished tea he used to go there again and work till it was dark。 Sometimes he did not go home to tea at all； but went straight from work to the garden； and his children used to bring his tea to him there in a glass bottle； with something to eat in a little basket。 He had four children； none of whom were yet old enough to go to work； and as may be imagined； he found it a pretty hard struggle to live。 He was not a teetotaller； but as he often remarked； ‘what the publicans got from him wouldn't make them very fat'； for he often went for weeks together without tasting the stuff； except a glass or two with the Sunday dinner； which he did not regard as an unnecessary expense； because it was almost as cheap as tea or coffee。
Fortunately his wife was a good needlewoman； and as sober and industrious as himself； by dint of slaving incessantly from morning till night she managed to keep her home fairly comfortable and the children clean and decently dressed； they always looked respectable； although they did not always have enough proper food to eat。 They looked so respectable that none of the ‘visiting ladies' ever regarded them as deserving cases。
Harlow paid fifteen shillings a year for his plot of ground； and although it meant a lot of hard work it was also a source of pleasure and some profit。 He generally made a few shillings out of the flowers； besides having enough potatoes and other vegetables to last them nearly all the year。
Sometimes Easton went over to the allotments and lent Harlow a hand with this gardening work； but whether he went there or to the Cricketers； he usually returned home about half past nine； and then went straight to bed； often without speaking a single word to Ruth； who for her part seldom spoke to him except to answer something he said； or to ask some necessary question。 At first； Easton used to think that it was all because of the way he had behaved to her in the public house； but when he apologized … as he did several times … and begged her to forgive him and forget about it； she always said it was all right； there was nothing to forgive。 Then； after a time； he began to think it was on account of their poverty and the loss of their home； for nearly all their furniture had been sold during the last winter。 But whenever he talked of trying to buy some more things to make the place comfortable again； she did not appear to take any interest： the house was neat enough as it was： they could manage very well； she said； indifferently。
One evening； about the middle of June； when he had been over to the allotments； Easton brought her home a bunch of flowers that Harlow had given him … some red and white roses and some pansies。 When he came in； Ruth was packing his food basket for the next day。 The baby was asleep in its cot on the floor near the window。 Although it was nearly nine o'clock the lamp had not yet been lighted and the mournful twilight that entered the room through the open window increased the desolation of its appearance。 The fire had burnt itself out and the grate was filled with ashes。 On the hearth was an old rug made of jute that had once been printed in bright colours which had faded away till the whole surface had become almost uniformly drab； showing scarcely any trace of the original pattern。 The rest of the floor was bare except for two or three small pieces of old carpet that Ruth had bought for a few pence at different times at some inferior second…hand shop。 The chairs and the table were almost the only things that were left of the original furniture of the room； and except for three or four plates of different patterns and sizes and a few cups and saucers； the shelves of the dresser were bare。
The stillness of the atmosphere was disturbed only by the occasional sound of the wheels of a passing vehicle and the strangely distinct voices of some children who were playing in the street。
‘I've brought you these；' said Easton； offering her the flowers。 ‘I thought you'd like them。 I got them from Harlow。 You know I've been helping him a little with his garden。'
At first he thought she did not want to take them。 She was standing at the table with her back to the window； so that he was unable to see the expression of her face； and she hesitated for a moment before she faltered out some words of thanks and took the flowers； which she put down on the table almost as soon as she touched them。
Offended at what he considered her contemptuous indifference； Easton made no further attempt at conversation but went into the scullery to wash his hands； and then went up to bed。
Downstairs； for a long time after he was gone； Ruth sat alone by the fireless grate； in the silence and the gathering shadows； holding the bunch of flowers in her hand； living over again the events of the last year； and consumed with an agony of remorse。
The presence of Mary Linden and the two children in the house probably saved Ruth from being more unhappy than she was。 Little Elsie had made an arrangement with her to be allowed to take the baby out for walks； and in return Ruth did Elsie's housework。 As for Mary； she had not much time to do anything but sew； almost the only relaxation she knew being when she took the work home； and on Sunday； which she usually devoted to a general clean…up of the room； and to mending the children's clothes。 Sometimes on Sunday evening she used to go with Ruth and the children to see Mrs Owen； who； although she was not ill enough to stay in bed； seldom went out of the house。 She had never really recovered from the attack of illness which was brought on by her work at the boarding house。 The doctor had been to see her once or twice and had prescribed … rest。 She was to lie down as much as possible； not to do any heavy work … not to carry or lift any heavy articles； scrub floors； make beds； or anything of that sort： and she was to take plenty of nourishing food； beef tea； chicken； a little