Page:Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.djvu/163

The Lodger they arrived down town, and then separated. Owen went by himself; Easton, Philpot, Crass and Bundy adjourned to the Cricketers Arms to have a drink together, and Slyme, who was a teetotaller, returned to the Eastons' house alone.

'Don't wait for me,' said Easton, as he went off with Crass and the others. 'I shall most likely catch you up before you get there.'

This evening Slyme, instead of taking the direct road, turned into the main street, and pausing before the window of a toy shop examined the articles displayed therein attentively. After some minutes he appeared to have come to a decision, and entering the shop he purchased a baby's rattle for fourpence half-penny. It was a pretty toy made of white bone and coloured wool, with a number of little bells hanging upon it, and a ring of white bone at the end of the handle.

He then set out for home, walking rapidly, and found Ruth sitting by the fire with the baby on her lap. She looked up with an expression of disappointment as she perceived that he was alone.

'Where's Will got to again?' she asked.

'He's gone to 'ave a drink with some of the chaps. He said he wouldn't be long,' replied Slyme as he put his food basket on the dresser and went upstairs to his room to wash and to change his clothes.

When he came down again, Easton had not yet arrived.

'Everything's ready, except just to make the tea,' said Ruth, who was evidently annoyed at the continued absence of Easton, 'so you may as well have yours now.'

'I'm in no hurry. I'll wait a little and see if he comes. He's sure to be here soon.'

'If you're sure you don't mind I shall be glad if you will wait,' said Ruth, 'because it will save me making two lots of tea.'

They waited for about half-an-hour, talking at intervals in a constrained, awkward way about trivial subjects. Then as Easton did not come, Ruth decided to serve Slyme without waiting any longer. With this intention she laid the baby in its cot, but the child resented this arrangement and began to cry, so she had to hold him under her left arm while she made the tea. Seeing her in this predicament, Slyme exclaimed, holding out his hands:

'Here, let me hold him while you do that.'

'Will you?' said Ruth, who in spite of her instinctive 151