This knowledge came to him on the night of the Beano.When he arrived home he found that Ruth had already gone to bed: she had not been well, and it was Mrs Linden's explanation of her illness that led Easton to think that he had discovered the cause of the unhappiness of the last few months.Now that he knew - as he thought - he blamed himself for not having been more considerate and patient with her.At the same time he was at a loss to understand why she had not told him about it herself.The only explanation he could think of was the one suggested by Mrs Linden - that at such times women often behaved strangely.However that might be, he was glad to think he knew the reason of it all, and he resolved that he would be more gentle and forebearing with her.
The place where he was working was practically finished.It was a large house called `The Refuge', very similar to `The Cave', and during the last week or two, it had become what they called a `hospital'.That is, as the other jobs became finished the men were nearly all sent to this one, so that there was quite a large crowd of them there.The inside work was all finished - with the exception of the kitchen, which was used as a mess room, and the scullery, which was the paint shop.
Everybody was working on the job.Poor old Joe Philpot, whose rheumatism had been very bad lately, was doing a very rough job -painting the gable from a long ladder.
But though there were plenty of younger men more suitable for this, Philpot did not care to complain for fear Crass or Misery should think he was not up to his work.At dinner time all the old hands assembled in the kitchen, including Crass, Easton, Harlow, Bundy and Dick Wantley, who still sat on a pail behind his usual moat.
Philpot and Harlow were absent and everybody wondered what had become of them.
Several times during the morning they had been seen whispering together and comparing scraps of paper, and various theories were put forward to account for their disappearance.Most of the men thought they must have heard something good about the probable winner of the Handicap and had gone to put something on.Some others thought that perhaps they had heard of another `job' about to be started by some other firm and had gone to inquire about it.
`Looks to me as if they'll stand a very good chance of gettin' drowned if they're gone very far,' remarked Easton, referring to the weather.
It had been threatening to rain all the morning, and during the last few minutes it had become so dark that Crass lit the gas, so that - as he expressed it - they should be able to see the way to their mouths.
Outside, the wind grew more boisterous every moment; the darkness continued to increase, and presently there succeeded a torrential downfall of rain, which beat fiercely against the windows, and poured in torrents down the glass.The men glanced gloomily at each other.
No more work could be done outside that day, and there was nothing left to do inside.As they were paid by the hour, this would mean that they would have to lose half a day's pay.
`If it keeps on like this we won't be able to do no more work, and we won't be able to go home either,' remarked Easton.
`Well, we're all right 'ere, ain't we?' said the man behind the moat;`there's a nice fire and plenty of heasy chairs.Wot the 'ell more do you want?'
`Yes,' remarked another philosopher.`If we only had a shove-ha'penny table or a ring board, I reckon we should be able to enjoy ourselves all right.'
Philpot and Harlow were still absent, and the others again fell to wondering where they could be.
`I see old Joe up on 'is ladder only a few minutes before twelve,'
remarked Wantley.
Everyone agreed that it was a mystery.
At this moment the two truants returned, looking very important.
Philpot was armed with a hammer and carried a pair of steps, while Harlow bore a large piece of wallpaper which the two of them proceeded to tack on the wall, much to the amusement of the others, who read the announcement opposite written in charcoal.
Every day at meals since Barrington's unexpected outburst at the Beano dinner, the men had been trying their best to `kid him on' to make another speech, but so far without success.If anything, he had been even more silent and reserved than before, as if he felt some regret that he had spoken as he had on that occasion.Crass and his disciples attributed Barrington's manner to fear that he was going to get the sack for his trouble and they agreed amongst themselves that it would serve him bloody well right if 'e did get the push.
When they had fixed the poster on the wall, Philpot stood the steps in the corner of the room, with the back part facing outwards, and then, everything being ready for the lecturer, the two sat down in their accustomed places and began to eat their dinners, Harlow remarking that they would have to buck up or they would be too late for the meeting; and the rest of the crowd began to discuss the poster.
`Wot the 'ell does PLO mean?' demanded Bundy, with a puzzled expression.
`Plain Layer On,' answered Philpot modestly.
`'Ave you ever 'eard the Professor preach before?' inquired the man on the pail, addressing Bundy.
`Only once, at the Beano,' replied that individual; `an' that was once too often!'
`Finest speaker I ever 'eard,' said the man on the pail with enthusiasm.`I wouldn't miss this lecture for anything: this is one of 'is best subjects.I got 'ere about two hours before the doors was opened, so as to be sure to get a seat.'
`Yes, it's a very good subject,' said Crass, with a sneer.`I believe most of the Labour Members in Parliament is well up in it.'
`And wot about the other members?' demanded Philpot.`Seems to me as if most of them knows something about it too.'
`The difference is,' said Owen, `the working classes voluntarily pay to keep the Labour Members, but whether they like it or not, they have to keep the others.'