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It was with a feeling of keen disappointment that Easton noticed how Ruth shrank away from him； for he had expected and hoped； that after this； they would be good friends once more； but he tried to think that it was because she was ill； and when she would not let him touch the child lest he should awaken it； he agreed without question。
The next day； and for the greater part of the time during the next fortnight； Ruth was in a raging fever。 There were intervals when although weak and exhausted； she was in her right mind； but most of the time she was quite unconscious of her surroundings and often delirious。 Mrs Owen came every day to help to look after her； because Mary just then had a lot of needlework to do； and consequently could only give part of her time to Ruth； who； in her delirium； lived and told over and over again all the sorrow and suffering of the last few months。 And so the two friends； watching by her bedside； learned her dreadful secret。
Sometimes … in her delirium … she seemed possessed of an intense and terrible loathing for the poor little creature she had brought into the world； and was with difficulty prevented from doing it violence。 Once she seized it cruelly and threw it fiercely from her to the foot of the bed； as if it had been some poisonous or loathsome thing。 And so it often became necessary to take the child away out of the room； so that she could not see or hear it； but when her senses came back to her； her first thought was for the child； and there must have been in her mind some faint recollection of what she had said and done in her madness； for when she saw that the baby was not in its accustomed place her distress and alarm were painful to see； as she entreated them with tears to give it back to her。 And then she would kiss and fondle it with all manner of endearing words； and cry bitterly。
Easton did not see or hear most of this； he only knew that she was very ill； for he went out every day on the almost hopeless quest for work。 Rushton's had next to nothing to do； and most of the other shops were in a similar plight。 Dauber and Botchit had one or two jobs going on； and Easton tried several times to get a start for them； but was always told they were full up。 The sweating methods of this firm continued to form a favourite topic of conversation with the unemployed workmen； who railed at and cursed them horribly。 It had leaked out that they were paying only sixpence an hour to most of the skilled workmen in their employment； and even then the conditions under which they worked were； if possible； worse than those obtaining at most other firms。 The men were treated like so many convicts； and every job was a hell where driving and bullying reigned supreme； and obscene curses and blasphemy polluted the air from morning till night。 The resentment of those who were out of work was directed； not only against the heads of the firm； but also against the miserable； half…starved drudges in their employment。 These poor wretches were denounced as ‘scabs' and ‘wastrels' by the unemployed workmen but all the same； whenever Dauber and Botchit wanted some extra hands they never had any difficulty in obtaining them； and it often happened that those who had been loudest and bitterest in their denunciations were amongst the first to rush off eagerly to apply there for a job whenever there was a chance of getting one。
Frequently the light was seen burning late at night in Rushton's office； where Nimrod and his master were figuring out prices and writing out estimates； cutting down the amounts to the lowest possible point in the hope of underbidding their rivals。 Now and then they were successful but whether they secured the work or not； Nimrod always appeared equally miserable。 If they got the ‘job' it often showed such a small margin of profit that Rushton used to grumble at him and suggest mismanagement。 If their estimates were too high and they lost the work； he used to demand of Nimrod why it was possible for Dauber and Botchit to do work so much more cheaply。
As the unemployed workmen stood in groups at the corners or walked aimlessly about the streets； they often saw Hunter pass by on his bicycle； looking worried and harassed。 He was such a picture of misery； that it began to be rumoured amongst the men； that he had never been the same since the time he had that fall off the bike； and some of them declared； that they wouldn't mind betting that ole Misery would finish up by going off his bloody rocker。
At intervals … whenever a job came in … Owen； Crass； Slyme； Sawkins and one or two others； continued to be employed at Rushton's； but they seldom managed to make more than two or three days a week； even when there was anything to do。
Chapter 50
Sundered
During the next few weeks Ruth continued very ill。 Although the delirium had left her and did not return； her manner was still very strange； and it was remarkable that she slept but little and at long intervals。 Mrs Owen came to look after her every day； not going back to her own home till the evening。 Frankie used to call for her as he came out of school and then they used to go home together； taking little Freddie Easton with them also； for his own mother was not able to look after him and Mary Linden had so much other work to do。
On Wednesday evening； when the child was about five weeks old； as Mrs Owen was wishing her good night； Ruth took hold of her hand and after saying how grateful she was for all that she had done； she asked whether … supposing anything happened to herself … Nora would promise to take charge of Freddie for Easton。 Owen's wife gave the required promise； at the same time affecting to regard the supposition as altogether unlikely； and assuring her that she would soon be better； but she secretly wondered why Ruth had not mentioned the other child as well。
Nora went away about five o'clock； leaving Ruth's bedroom door open so that Mrs Linden could hear her call if she needed anything。 About a quarter of an hour after Nora and the two children had gone； Mary Linden went upstairs to see Ruth； who appeared to have fallen fast asleep； so she returned to her needlework downstairs。 The weather had been very cloudy all day； there had been rain at intervals and it was a dark evening； so dark that she had to light the lamp to see her work。 Charley sat on the hearthrug in front of the fire repairing one of the wheels of a wooden cart that he had made with the assistance of another boy； and Elsie busied herself preparing the tea。
Easton was not yet home； Rushton & Co。 had a few jobs to do and he had been at work since the previous Thursday。 The place where he was working was some considerable distance away； so it was nearly half past six when he came home。 They heard him at the gate and at her mother's direction Elsie went quickly to the front door； which was ajar； to ask him to walk as quietly as possible so as not to wake Ruth。
Mary had prepared the table for his tea in the kitchen； where there was a bright fire with the kettle singing on the hob。 He lit the lamp and after removing his hat and overcoat； put the kettle on the fire and while he was waiting for it to boil he went softly