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on the hill at Windley and reading the books and pamphlets I bought there and from Owen； I came to the conclusion some time ago that it's a mug's game for us to vote for capitalists whether they calls theirselves Liberals or Tories。 They're all alike when you're workin' for 'em； I defy any man to say what's the difference between a Liberal and a Tory employer。 There is none … there can't be； they're both sweaters； and they've got to be； or they wouldn't be able to compete with each other。 And since that's what they are； I say it's a mug's game for us to vote 'em into Parliament to rule over us and to make laws that we've got to abide by whether we like it or not 。 There's nothing to choose between 'em； and the proof of it is that it's never made much difference to us which party was in or which was out。 It's quite true that in the past both of 'em have passed good laws； but they've only done it when public opinion was so strong in favour of it that they knew there was no getting out of it； and then it was a toss up which side did it。
‘That's the way I've been lookin' at things lately； and I'd almost made up my mind never to vote no more； or to trouble myself about politics at all； because although I could see there was no sense in voting for Liberal or Tory capitalists； at the same time I must admit I couldn't make out how Socialism was going to help us。 But the explanation of it which Professor Barrington has given us this afternoon has been a bit of an eye opener for me； and with your permission I should like to move as a resolution； 〃That it is the opinion of this meeting that Socialism is the only remedy for Unemployment and Poverty。〃'
The conclusion of Harlow's address was greeted with loud cheers from the Socialists； but most of the Liberal and Tory supporters of the present system maintained a sulky silence。
‘I'll second that resolution；' said Easton。
‘And I'll lay a bob both ways；' remarked Bundy。 The resolution was then put； and though the majority were against it； the Chairman declared it was carried unanimously。
By this time the violence of the storm had in a great measure abated； but as rain was still falling it was decided not to attempt to resume work that day。 Besides； it would have been too late； even if the weather had cleared up。
‘P'raps it's just as well it 'as rained；' remarked one man。 ‘If it 'adn't some of us might 'ave got the sack tonight。 As it is； there'll be hardly enough for all of us to do tomorrer and Saturday mornin' even if it is fine。'
This was true： nearly all the outside was finished； and what remained to be done was ready for the final coat。 Inside all there was to do was to colour wash the walls and to give the woodwork of the kitchen and scullery the last coat of paint。
It was inevitable … unless the firm had some other work for them to do somewhere else … that there would be a great slaughter on Saturday。
‘Now；' said Philpot； assuming what he meant to be the manner of a school teacher addressing children； ‘I wants you hall to make a speshall heffort and get 'ere very early in the mornin' … say about four o'clock … and them wot doos the most work tomorrer； will get a prize on Saturday。'
‘What'll it be； the sack？' inquired Harlow。
‘Yes；' replied Philpot； ‘and not honly will you get a prize for good conduck tomorrer； but if you all keep on workin' like we've bin doing lately till you're too hold and wore hout to do？any more； you'll be allowed to go to a nice workhouse for the rest of your lives！ and each one of you will be given a title … 〃Pauper！〃'
And they laughed！
Although the majority of them had mothers or fathers or other near relatives who had already succeeded to the title … they laughed！
As they were going home； Crass paused at the gate； and pointing up to the large gable at the end of the house； he said to Philpot：
‘You'll want the longest ladder … the 65； for that； tomorrow。'
Philpot looked up at the gable。
It was very high。
Chapter 46
The ‘Sixty…five'
The next morning after breakfast； Philpot； Sawkins； Harlow and Barrington went to the Yard to get the long ladder … the 65 … so called because it had sixty…five rungs。 It was really what is known as a builder's scaffold ladder； and it had been strengthened by several iron bolts or rods which passed through just under some of the rungs。 One side of the ladder had an iron band or ribbon twisted and nailed round it spirally。 It was not at all suitable for painters' work； being altogether too heavy and cumbrous。 However； as none of the others were long enough to reach the high gable at the Refuge； they managed； with a struggle； to get it down from the hooks and put it on one of the handcarts and soon passed through the streets of mean and dingy houses in the vicinity of the yard； and began the ascent of the long hill。
There had been a lot of rain during the night； and the sky was still overcast with dark grey clouds。 The cart went heavily over the muddy road； Sawkins was at the helm； holding the end of the ladder and steering； the others walked a little further ahead； at the sides of the cart。
It was such hard work that by the time they were half…way up the hill they were so exhausted and out of breath that they had to stop for a rest。
‘This is a bit of all right； ain't it？' remarked Harlow as he took off his cap and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his handkerchief。
While they rested they kept a good look out for Rushton or Hunter； who were likely to pass by at any moment。
At first； no one made any reply to Harlow's observation； for they were all out of breath and Philpot's lean fingers trembled violently as he wiped the perspiration from his face。
‘Yes； mate；' he said despondently； after a while。 ‘It's one way of gettin' a livin' and there's plenty better ways。'
In addition to the fact that his rheumatism was exceptionally bad； he felt unusually low…spirited this morning； the gloomy weather and the prospect of a long day of ladder work probably had something to do with it。
‘A 〃living〃 is right；' said Barrington bitterly。 He also was exhausted with the struggle up the hill and enraged by the woebegone appearance of poor old Philpot； who was panting and quivering from the exertion。
They relapsed into silence。 The unaccountable depression that possessed Philpot deprived him of all his usual jocularity and filled him with melancholy thoughts。 He had travelled up and down this hill a great many times before under similar circumstances and he said to himself that if he had half a quid now for every time he had pushed a cart up this road； he wouldn't need to do anyone out of a job all the rest of his life。
The shop where he had been apprenticed used to be just down at the bottom； the place had been pulled down years ago； and the ground was now occupied by more pretentious buildings。 Not quite so far down the road … on the other side … he could see the church where he used to attend Sunday School when he was a boy； and where he was married just thirty years ago。 Presently … when they reached the top of the hill … he would be able to look across the valley and see the spire of the other church； the one in the graveyard； where a