第4章

He was about twenty-five years of age and a good deal taller than the majority of the others, being about five feet ten inches in height and slenderly though well and strongly built.He seemed very anxious to learn all that he could about the trade, and although rather reserved in his manner, he had contrived to make himself fairly popular with his workmates.He seldom spoke unless to answer when addressed, and it was difficult to draw him into conversation.At meal-times, as on the present occasion, he generally smoked, apparently lost in thought and unconscious of his surroundings.

Most of the others also lit their pipes and a desultory conversation ensued.

`Is the gent what's bought this 'ouse any relation to Sweater the draper?' asked Payne, the carpenter's foreman.

`It's the same bloke,' replied Crass.

`Didn't he used to be on the Town Council or something?'

`'E's bin on the Council for years,' returned Crass.`'E's on it now.

'E's mayor this year.'E's bin mayor several times before.'

`Let's see,' said Payne, reflectively, `'e married old Grinder's sister, didn't 'e? You know who I mean, Grinder the greengrocer.'

`Yes, I believe he did,' said Crass.

`It wasn't Grinder's sister,' chimed in old Jack Linden.`It was 'is niece.I know, because I remember working in their 'ouse just after they was married, about ten year ago.'

`Oh yes, I remember now,' said Payne.`She used to manage one of Grinder's branch shops didn't she?'

`Yes,' replied Linden.`I remember it very well because there was a lot of talk about it at the time.By all accounts, ole Sweater used to be a regler 'ot un: no one never thought as he'd ever git married at all: there was some funny yarns about several young women what used to work for him.'

This important matter being disposed of, there followed a brief silence, which was presently broken by Harlow.

`Funny name to call a 'ouse, ain't it?' he said.`"The Cave." Iwonder what made 'em give it a name like that.'

`They calls 'em all sorts of outlandish names nowadays,' said old Jack Linden.

`There's generally some sort of meaning to it, though,' observed Payne.`For instance, if a bloke backed a winner and made a pile, 'e might call 'is 'ouse, "Epsom Lodge" or "Newmarket Villa".'

`Or sometimes there's a hoak tree or a cherry tree in the garding,'

said another man; `then they calls it "Hoak Lodge" or "Cherry Cottage".'

`Well, there's a cave up at the end of this garden,' said Harlow with a grin, `you know, the cesspool, what the drains of the 'ouse runs into; praps they called it after that.'

`Talking about the drains,' said old Jack Linden when the laughter produced by this elegant joke had ceased.`Talking about the drains, I wonder what they're going to do about them; the 'ouse ain't fit to live in as they are now, and as for that bloody cesspool it ought to be done away with.'

`So it is going to be,' replied Crass.`There's going to be a new set of drains altogether, carried right out to the road and connected with the main.'

Crass really knew no more about what was going to be done in this matter than did Linden, but he felt certain that this course would be adopted.He never missed an opportunity of enhancing his own prestige with the men by insinuating that he was in the confidence of the firm.

`That's goin' to cost a good bit,' said Linden.

`Yes, I suppose it will,' replied Crass, `but money ain't no object to old Sweater.'E's got tons of it; you know 'e's got a large wholesale business in London and shops all over the bloody country, besides the one 'e's got 'ere.'

Easton was still reading the Obscurer; he was not about to understand exactly what the compiler of the figures was driving at - probably the latter never intended that anyone should understand - but he was conscious of a growing feeling of indignation and hatred against foreigners of every description, who were ruining this country, and he began to think that it was about time we did something to protect ourselves.Still, it was a very difficult question: to tell the truth, he himself could not make head or tail of it.At length he said aloud, addressing himself to Crass:

`Wot do you think of this 'ere fissical policy, Bob?'

`Ain't thought much about it,' replied Crass.`I don't never worry my 'ed about politics.'

`Much better left alone,' chimed in old Jack Linden sagely, `argyfying about politics generally ends up with a bloody row an' does no good to nobody.'

At this there was a murmur of approval from several of the others.

Most of them were averse from arguing or disputing about politics.If two or three men of similar opinions happened to be together they might discuss such things in a friendly and superficial way, but in a mixed company it was better left alone.The 'Fissical Policy'

emanated from the Tory party.That was the reason why some of them were strongly in favour of it, and for the same reason others were opposed to it.Some of them were under the delusion that they were Conservatives: similarly, others imagined themselves to be Liberals.

As a matter of fact, most of them were nothing.They knew as much about the public affairs of their own country as they did of the condition of affairs in the planet of Jupiter.

Easton began to regret that he had broached so objectionable a subject, when, looking up from his paper, Owen said:

`Does the fact that you never "trouble your heads about politics"prevent you from voting at election times?'

No one answered, and there ensued a brief silence.Easton however, in spite of the snub he had received, could not refrain from talking.

`Well, I don't go in for politics much, either, but if what's in this 'ere paper is true, it seems to me as we oughter take some interest in it, when the country is being ruined by foreigners.'

`If you're going to believe all that's in that bloody rag you'll want some salt,' said Harlow.

The Obscurer was a Tory paper and Harlow was a member of the local Liberal club.Harlow's remark roused Crass.