Page:Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.djvu/94

 'I've got a pill ready for 'im, though, next time 'e starts yappin',' Crass continued, as he drew a small piece of printed paper from his waistcoat pocket. 'Just read that; it's out of the "Obscurer."'

Easton took the newspaper cutting and read it: 'Very good,' he remarked as he handed it back.

'Yes, I think that'll about shut 'im up. Did yer notice the other day when we was talking about poverty, and men bein' cut of work, 'ow 'e dodged out of answerin' wot I said about machinery bein' the cause of it? 'E never answered me, started talkin' about something else!'

'Yes, I remember 'e never answered it,' said Easton, who had really no recollection of the incident at all.

'I mean to tackle 'im about it at breakfast time. I don't see why 'e should be allowed to get out of it like that. There was a bloke down at the "Cricketers" the other night talkin' about the same thing—a chap as takes a interest in politics and the like—and 'e said the very same as me. Why, the number of men what's been throwed out of work by all this 'ere newfangled machinery is something chronic!'

'Of course,' agreed Easton. 'Everyone knows it.'

'You ought to give us a look in at the "Cricketers" some night. There's a decent lot of chaps comes there.'

'Yes, I think I will.'

'What 'ouse do you usually use?' asked Crass after a pause.

Easton laughed. 'Well, to tell you the truth I've not used anywheres lately. Been 'avin too many 'ollerdays.'

'That do make a bit of difference, don't it?' said Crass. 'But you'll be all right 'ere till this job's done. Just watch yerself a bit, and don't get comin' late in the mornins. Ole Nimrod's dead nuts on that.'

'I'll see to that all right," replied Easton; 'I don't believe in losing time when there is work to do. It's bad enough when you can't get it.'

'You know,' Crass went on, confidentially, 'between me an' you an' the gatepost, as the sayin' is, I don't think Mr bloody Owen will be 'ere much longer. Nimrod 'ates the sight of 'im!'

Easton had it in his mind to say that Nimrod seemed to hate the sight of all of them, but he made no remark and Crass continued: 82