第10章

Hunter knew now that he had been used, but he also knew that it was too late to turn back.He had not saved enough to make a successful start on his own account even if he had felt mentally and physically capable of beginning all over again, and if Rushton were to discharge him right now he was too old to get a job as a journeyman.Further, in his zeal for Rushton & Co.and his anxiety to earn his commission, he had often done things that had roused the animosity of rival firms to such an extent that it was highly improbable that any of them would employ him, and even if they would, Misery's heart failed him at the thought of having to meet on an equal footing those workmen whom he had tyrannized over and oppressed.It was for these reasons that Hunter was as terrified of Rushton as the hands were of himself.

Over the men stood Misery, ever threatening them with dismissal and their wives and children with hunger.Behind Misery was Rushton, ever bullying and goading him on to greater excuses and efforts for the furtherance of the good cause - which was to enable the head of the firm to accumulate money.

Mr Hunter, at the moment when the reader first makes his acquaintance on the afternoon of the day when the incidents recorded in the first chapter took place, was executing a kind of strategic movement in the direction of the house where Crass and his mates were working.He kept to one side of the road because by so doing he could not be perceived by those within the house until the instant of his arrival.

When he was within about a hundred yards of the gate he dismounted from his bicycle, there being a sharp rise in the road just there, and as he toiled up, pushing the bicycle in front, his breath showing in white clouds in the frosty air, he observed a number of men hanging about.Some of them he knew; they had worked for him at various times, but where now out of a job.There were five men altogether;three of them were standing in a group, the other two stood each by himself, being apparently strangers to each other and the first three.

The three men who stood together were nearest to Hunter and as the latter approached, one of them advanced to meet him.

`Good afternoon, sir.'

Hunter replied by an inarticulate grunt, without stopping; the man followed.

`Any chance of a job, sir?'

`Full up,' replied Hunter, still without stopping.The man still followed, like a beggar soliciting charity.

`Be any use calling in a day or so, sir?'

'Don't think so,' Hunter replied.`Can if you like; but we're full up.'

'Thank you, sir,' said the man, and turned back to his friends.

By this time Hunter was within a few yards of one of the other two men, who also came to speak to him.This man felt there was no hope of getting a job; still, there was no harm in asking.Besides, he was getting desperate.It was over a month now since he had finished up for his last employer.It had been a very slow summer altogether.

Sometimes a fortnight for one firm; then perhaps a week doing nothing;then three weeks or a month for another firm, then out again, and so on.And now it was November.Last winter they had got into debt;that was nothing unusual, but owing to the bad summer they had not been able, as in other years, to pay off the debts accumulated in winter.It was doubtful, too, whether they would be able to get credit again this winter.In fact this morning when his wife sent their little girl to the grocer's for some butter the latter had refused to let the child have it without the money.So although he felt it to be useless he accosted Hunter.

This time Hunter stopped: he was winded by his climb up the hill.

`Good afternoon.sir.'

Hunter did not return the salutation; he had not the breath to spare, but the man was not hurt; he was used to being treated like that.

`Any chance of a job, sir?'

Hunter did not reply at once.He was short of breath and he was thinking of a plan that was ever recurring to his mind, and which he had lately been hankering to put into execution.It seemed to him that the long waited for opportunity had come.Just now Rushton & Co.

were almost the only firm in Mugsborough who had any work.There were dozens of good workmen out.Yes, this was the time.If this man agreed he would give him a start.Hunter knew the man was a good workman, he had worked for Rushton & Co.before.To make room for him old Linden and some other full-price man could be got rid of; it would not be difficult to find some excuse.

`Well,' Hunter said at last in a doubtful, hesitating kind of way, `I'm afraid not, Newman.We're about full up.'

He ceased speaking and remained waiting for the other to say something more.He did not look at the man, but stooped down, fidgeting with the mechanism of the bicycle as if adjusting it.

`Things have been so bad this summer,' Newman went on.`I've had rather a rough time of it.I would be very glad of a job even if it was only for a week or so.'

There was a pause.After a while, Hunter raised his eyes to the other's face, but immediately let them fall again.

`Well,' said he, `I might - perhaps - be able to let you have a day or two.You can come here to this job,' and he nodded his head in the direction of the house where the men were working.`Tomorrow at seven.Of course you know the figure?' he added as Newman was about to thank him.`Six and a half.'

Hunter spoke as if the reduction were already an accomplished fact.

The man was more likely to agree, if he thought that others were already working at the reduced rate.