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！
n opinion as to the reason； some thinking that Nimrod was determined to keep them all on till the job was finished； so as to get it done as quickly as possible； and others boldly asserting the truth of a rumour that had been going about for several days that the firm had another big job in。 Mr Sweater had bought another house； Rushton had to do it up； and they were all to be kept on to start this other work as soon as ‘The Cave' was finished。 Crass knew no more than anyone else and he maintained a discreet silence； but the fact that he did not contradict the rumour served to strengthen it。 The only foundation that existed for this report was that Rushton and Misery had been seen looking over the garden gate of a large empty house near ‘The Cave'。 But although it had such an insignificant beginning； the rumour had grown and increased in detail and importance day by day。 That very morning at breakfast…time； the man on the pail had announced that he had heard on the very best authority that Mr Sweater had sold all his interest in the great business that bore his name and was about to retire into private life； and that he intended to buy up all the house property in the neighbourhood of ‘The Cave'。 Another individual … one of the new hands … said that he had heard someone else … in a public house … say that Rushton was about to marry one of Sweater's daughters； and that Sweater intended to give the couple a house to live in； as a wedding present： but the fact that Rushton was already married and the father of four children； rather knocked the bottom out of this story； so it was regretfully dismissed。 Whatever the reason； the fact remained that nobody had been discharged； and when pay…time arrived they set out for the office in high spirits。
That evening； the weather being fine； Slyme went out as usual to his open…air meeting； but Easton departed from HIS usual custom of rushing off to the ‘Cricketers' directly he had had his tea； having on this occasion promised to wait for Ruth and to go with her to do the marketing。 The baby was left at home alone； asleep in the cradle。
By the time they had made all their purchases they had a fairly heavy load。 Easton carried the string…bag containing the potatoes and other vegetables； and the meat； and Ruth； the groceries。 On their way home； they had to pass the ‘Cricketers' and just before they reached that part of their journey they met Mr and Mrs Crass； who were also out marketing。 They both insisted on Easton and Ruth going in to have a drink with them。 Ruth did not want to go； but she allowed herself to be persuaded for she could see that Easton was beginning to get angry with her for refusing。 Crass had on a new overcoat and a new hat； with dark grey trousers and yellow boots； and a ‘stand…up' collar with a bright blue tie。 His wife … a fat； vulgar…looking； well…preserved woman about forty … was arrayed in a dark red ‘motor' costume； with hat to match。 Both Easton and Ruth … whose best clothes had all been pawned to raise the money to pay the poor rate … felt very mean and shabby before them。
When they got inside； Crass paid for the first round of drinks； a pint of Old Six for himself； the same for Easton； half a pint for Mrs Easton and threepenny…worth of gin for Mrs Crass。
The Besotted Wretch was there； just finishing a game of hooks and rings with the Semi…drunk … who had called round on the day after he was thrown out； to apologize for his conduct to the Old Dear； and had since then become one of the regular customers。 Philpot was absent。 He had been there that afternoon； so the Old Dear said； but he had gone home about five o'clock； and had not been back since。 He was almost sure to look in again in the course of the evening。
Although the house was not nearly so full as it would have been if times had been better； there was a large number of people there； for the ‘Cricketers' was one of the most popular houses in the town。 Another thing that helped to make them busy was the fact that two other public houses in the vicinity had recently been closed up。 There were people in all the compartments。 Some of the seats in the public bar were occupied by women； some young and accompanied by their husbands； some old and evidently sodden with drink。 In one corner of the public bar； drinking beer or gin with a number of young fellows； were three young girls who worked at a steam laundry in the neighbourhood。 Two large； fat； gipsy…looking women： evidently hawkers； for on the floor beside them were two baskets containing bundles of flowers … chrysanthemums and Michaelmas daisies。 There were also two very plainly and shabbily dressed women about thirty…five years of age； who were always to be found there on Saturday nights； drinking with any man who was willing to pay for them。 The behaviour of these two women was very quiet and their manners unobtrusive。 They seemed to realize that they were there only on sufferance； and their demeanour was shamefaced and humble。
The majority of the guests were standing。 The floor was sprinkled with sawdust which served to soak up the beer that slopped out of the glasses of those whose hands were too unsteady to hold them upright。 The air was foul with the smell of beer； spirits and tobacco smoke； and the uproar was deafening； for nearly everyone was talking at the same time； their voices clashing discordantly with the strains of the Polyphone； which was playing ‘The Garden of Your Heart'。 In one corner a group of men convulsed with laughter at the details of a dirty story related by one of their number。 Several impatient customers were banging the bottoms of their empty glasses or pewters on the counter and shouting their orders for more beer。 Oaths； curses and obscene expressions resounded on every hand； coming almost as frequently from the women as the men。 And over all the rattle of money； the ringing of the cash register。 The clinking and rattling of the glasses and pewter pots as they were being washed； and the gurgling noise made by the beer as it poured into the drinking vessels from the taps of the beer engine； whose handles were almost incessantly manipulated by the barman； the Old Dear and the glittering landlady； whose silken blouse； bejewelled hair； ears； neck and fingers scintillated gloriously in the blaze of the gaslight。
The scene was so novel and strange to Ruth that she felt dazed and bewildered。 Previous to her marriage she had been a total abstainer； but since then she had occasionally taken a glass of beer with Easton for company's sake with their Sunday dinner at home； but it was generally Easton who went out and bought the beer in a jug。 Once or twice she had bought it herself at an Off Licence beer…shop near where they lived； but she had never before been in a public house to drink。 She was so confused and ill at ease that she scarcely heard or understood Mrs Crass； who talked incessantly； principally about their other residents in North Street where they both resided； and about Mr Crass。 She also promised Ruth to introduce her presently … if he came in； as he was almost certain to do … to Mr Partaker； one of her two lodgers a most superior young man； who had been with them now for over thre