by Henry Green
'Very glad to see you sir!'
'I'm sorry Mr Bridges is ill!'
'Yes, it's a shame he's bad.' (Mr Tarver was in great spirits this morning) 'But you mark my words squire,' he said, 'they'll all go together.'
'What on earth do you mean, they'll all go together?'
'Well you see Mr Dupret' said Tarver and he went red, 'I meant they were getting on, you can't be sixty-one and expect to feel on top of the world.'
'I don't want any intrigue Tarver,' Mr Dupret said in tired voice, 'we've all got to pull together or we'll be nowhere in no time.'
'You mustn't take what I say wrong, sir, we all work for the good of the firm, we all pull together, though we're all sorts and different sizes.'
'That's it,' said Mr Dupret, and felt like he was nurse at school for infants and surely this man Tarver was mad. Why did he call you squire?
'Mr Tarver, I thought when Mr Bridges came back I would suggest to him your having another draughtsman. And really if Bum-pus is always getting ill like this we had better part with him.'
'Don't take Bumpus from me,' Mr Tarver said dangerously. He rose from his chair. 'I couldn't do without him, Mr Dupret, for God's sake.'
This one was pleased. The man had spirit. 'Right you are,' said he, 'I didn't know if you thought a lot of him, that's all. And I promise to get you another. Or rather you and Bumpus, and of course Mr Bridges will have to choose a further draughtsman between you.'
'It's been needed, I only said to the wife the other night I didn't see how I could go on short-handed like this with the new machine I'm bringing out. But with another man we'll eat it up colonel.'
Beaming he came up and shook Dupret by the hand.
Mr Dupret thought perhaps he was mad after all but enthusiastic anyway, not all words like old Bridges, and he was a young man, Arthur thought well of him. Yes, damn it, he would show them and give Tarver pat on the back. So he asked Tarver if he was coming round works with him, and together they went round, Tarver visibly glad.
As they went round works, Mr Dupret and Mr Tarver, behind them was Cummings. He dodged behind machinery and everything they did he noticed, every time they stopped to look at something he took it to be complaints.
Mr Milligan, standing in gateway of stores department, saw him following and said in his mind who would believe it who did not know? Who would be in position of authority now, even to be storekeeper? You had to be strong man, nerves of steel, or it was more than your health would stand.
Didn't they make themselves ridiculous the way they behaved, look at Cummings, everyone in the place laughing at him so soon as he was gone by. That must have been a knock for him the young chap going round with Tarver. Yes, and their health couldn't stand it, some of them. Andrew, foreman in iron foundry, many a time worry was too much for him and he'd go off and sit in a corner where none could see him with his hands over his face. Was many would not believe that but with delivery, delivery always being shouted at you, in tricky work like iron founding were many foremen took their lives and those that didn't take them had their lives shortened by the worry. Andrew had been looking done up just lately, Mr Milligan said in his mind, and thought of when he himself was last in hospital.
Mr Dupret and Tarver came to iron foundry shop. 'Have they had many wasters here recently, Mr Tarver?'
'No, we've been very free of them for the last week or two. But they're slow in this shop colonel, terribly slow.'
'Well I suppose that's all right as long as they don't make bad ones.'
'You're right there Mr Dupret, but they ought to make sound castings quicker, like they do in other foundries.'
'Sometimes these people don't seem to be able to make good ones quick or slow. Do you remember a few weeks back—' and they talked of job which had given trouble. Dupret used what he thought was Mr Tarver's language.
'What d'you put it down to Tarver, ought we to have another foreman?' nodding to Philpots who was busy and yet watching them, in comer of foundry shop.
'Andrew's all right,' said Mr Tarver, 'no it's the men he has to work with. You can't get old men to work fast squire, that's natural, and old men like Craigan keep the weight down.'
'Then why do we keep him on?'
'Mr Bridges says he couldn't do without him.'
'Well,' said Mr Dupret, 'I suppose Mr Bridges has his reasons,' and they moved off and into machine shop.
Mr Cummings darted into iron foundry. He went to Andrew Philpots.
'Did 'e say nothing to you Andy?'
'I didn't like to go and speak to 'im, I waited 'ere till 'e should come to me if 'e 'ad anything to say.'
Mr Cummings went off. What are they up to he asked in his mind. What is it?
'Well dear' Mrs Dupret said, 'did you go down to Birmingham today?'
'Yes,' said Mr Dupret.
'What's the matter, Dick, aren't you feeling well?'
'No, I'm feeling quite all right' said Mr Dupret lying, 'but the works are so depressing, it's all so incompetent. They are all such awful people.'
'Well from now on it's your own fault, darling, if you don't like them, isn't it? I mean you're head of the business now. When your father was alive you had to do things more or less under his supervision but you are your own master now, aren't you dear? Still I expect the more you look into it you'll find your father right'
'Yes. But it's not altogether the works. The fact is, I've gone crazy over a girl again.'
After Mrs Dupret had said what was fit and appreciative and had let him tell her that it was Hannah Glossop – he had told her some months ago only he'd forgotten that – he described Tom Tyler and the way she did not seem to notice anyone else.
Mrs Dupret comforted.
Mrs Dupret said that sort of man exercised a fascination over girls which soon wore off. 'He is young and fresh looking and full of spirits,' she said 'but they soon see there is nothing much in him after all.' She told him to keep away from Hannah a bit, above all not to run after her just now, and she proposed that they should have that little dinner party for her which they were to have had before his father fell ill. Hearing little of what she said, he went on about how the thought of her was perpetually running through his mind, and sometimes the thought of her came in spasms upon him, it made him feel quite ill, physically ill. Mrs Dupret said, 'poor darling,' and 'we'll see if we can't get her to dinner, shall we?'
Miss Gates. Now, as has been said, evenings were drawing in, now they could no longer go out in the evening, winter, or at most they allowed themselves one cinema in the week.
So it was often that she stayed indoors and Mr Jones began going to technical school where she sent him. Sitting at home with the family she darned their socks and mended clothes in the evenings, and Mr Craigan with her father and Jim Dale were there. Now again it seemed for Craigan like times when Lily had kept company with Jim. Their evenings were as they had been and that was comfortable for him.
She had begun saving and she made Mr Jones save. This was why she was so much quieter, but Dale thought perhaps those two were tiring of each other and soon they might quarrel, then she would come back to him again. So he took heart and went no more out in the evenings nor gave her much attention now he began to feel sure of her again, only Gates went more and more out and was often seen with Mr Tupe.
Mr Bridges put back receiver on its hook. He went back into sitting room of the lodging house at Weston. His wife asked him about the news. He said the young chap had just left works, he had had Cummings on the 'phone. Mrs Bridges asked if he had done anything?
'No, not a thing.'
'Well that's a bit off my mind.'
'How's that?'
'You know how I mean.'
'It's not what he does, he don't do anything, it's what 'e means to do Janie. And now the father's dead what's to stop him doing it.'
'How do you know what he means to do?'
'You can see it in 'is eye. He looks at me now and again with a look as if I'd murdered 'is best gir
l or got her be'ind a hedge.'
'You!'
'It's a vindictive somehow. That's why I shouldn't ever've come here. You'll see he'll use it some way against me.'
'But didn't Mr Cummings tell you nothing else just now?'
'Cummings? Ah, I was keeping the best for the end. The young chap wouldn't go round with Cummings, wasn't good enough for 'im, no he 'ad to go round the place with Tarver for everyone to see. What d'you make of that eh?'
Mrs Bridges shook head over that.
'Cummings said 'e went round after them but couldn't make out they'd said anything particular. That's a good man, Cummings. I wouldn't take £1,000 for 'im, not if I 'ad the choice. That's where it is. I ain't got the choice of me own men, I have to be told now if a man's a engineer or not.'
'Don't get talking so, Phil, young Mr Dupret ain't done nothing to you yet.'
'Ah, but what's 'e going to do? There's nothing that comes I can't see coming, all my life or I shouldn't be where I am. And Tarver? Aren't I as nice and easy with him as a man could be, cooing like a dove to 'im, yes, and I'd turn somersaults like other pigeons if that's what he preferred. Ah Janie I'm glad we're leaving for old Brum tomorrow. It's got on my nerves sitting here. But there's this to it, I feel grand, grand after this ten days.'
He went over and gave wife sounding kiss. She laughed: 'you get 'is girl behind a hedge!' she said.
11
Hannah Glossop stayed over into next day when rest of house-party had gone. All the men had gone back to offices but Tom Tyler, who was on leave from Siam. So she had him all to herself.
All afternoon went they for a walk across fields and she asked him what his life was. He was unpaid adjunct to British resident at Siam. He told about shooting they had and how you could get a game of squash racquets there. He said how once the resident's wife came down to official dinner with her dress back to front, and the difficulty he had had to let her know. The way he had done it was to turn his plate upside down and being a clever woman she had understood. Dropping suddenly to the intimate he said evenings there were marvellous, and between them they had got together quite a good little dance band at the country club.
He was bored with this walk because she made him do all the talking and was serious, but she – as sometimes on a ship when is sun and spray so do you see rainbows everywhere, on the deck, on wave-crests, so as he spoke wonder was round about all he said for her.
As soon as Mr Bridges had gotten back he went round works. ' 'Tis 'im' the men said when they saw him. He went round. He thought in his mind it was fine, fine to be back. 'The men have but to come to me when they're in trouble, I'm a father and mother to them,' he cried in his heart, 'aye, I am that.'
He talked long with Tupe, very hearty with him. Cummings came up then to greet him for Mr Bridges had gone straight into works when he was back. Loudly Mr Bridges met him. He said he felt fine, fine. He asked how things were and Mr Cummings said everything was going on all right. Then moving a few yards away so Tupe could not hear above the noise of lathes working in this shop Mr Bridges asked what about young chap? As heads of these two moved towards each other at that, men on lathes winked one to another, while Mr Cummings grew mysterious look on his face. He said he had only just heard, Tarver had come boasting to him he said, boasting the young chap was giving him another draughtsman. 'Our overheads won't stand it sir,' he said, though he did not know much about such charges.
Mr Bridges said: 'There's a grand thing to welcome you back.'
He stood silent.
'Another draughtsman, eh?' he said. He swore.
At last he said why couldn't Tarver have come and said a word to him when he got back, (forgetting he was but just arrived) no bit of friendliness in that man anywhere, it made life misery for you, why if you'd been so nearly dead you'd had a chat with Peter at the gate Tarver wouldn't say a word when you got back.
'Isn't 'e a beauty?' Mr Bridges said.
That evening Mr Bridges went through works on the look out for trouble. Mr Tarver had not come to see him or ask him how he was. Bridges went through works on chance of finding someone to vent anger on.
That day Mr Bert Jones had one of his spells on him. Were days when he could not work, his mind was not in it. It was not that he couldn't concentrate because he was thinking of something else, but rather as if his mind was satiated by the trade he worked at, as if he had reached saturation point as day by day, year by year he did very much the same things with almost identical movements of arms and legs. So sometimes when you are working daze comes over you and your brain lies back, it rocks like the sea, and as commonplace.
So he stopped working.
'What's the matter with you Bert?'
'There aint nothing the matter?'
'Well come on then.'
But Mr Bridges came up behind. He made a row. Only that, he did not suspend him. But he relieved choking feeling he had in his chest. He went away satisfied.
Mr Jones worked for rest of evening without stopping. He felt like quite desperate.
That evening, half past five, and thousands came out of factories, the syrens sounding, and went home.
Mr Craigan, with Gates and Jim Dale, went out of Dupret factory together, when Mr Tupe came up with them. He walked with them. He said:
' 'Ow do you think the old man's lookin'?'
Mr Gates said holiday didn't seem to have done him much good. Anger rose in Mr Craigan at Tupe's coming up to them.
'Aint it a bloody shame' said Tupe, 'the way they try and drive a man of 'is age to the mad'ouse. Did you 'appen to see Tarver and young 'opeful goin' round together not above a week back? Well and now Tarver won't come and bid the old man good day when 'e gets back after goin' away for 'is 'earth.'
' 'Ow d'you know, know all,' Mr Dale said.
'I knows young feller because 'e told me 'imself.'
'O he did, did 'e?'
'Ah, 'e did, and I don't reckon they've any right to treat an old man the way they're doin'. 'E's told me things. When a man gets on in years they should respect 'is age I reckon, what d'you say?' said he, turning to Mr Craigan. This one made no answer to him.
'Yes by rights that's what they should do' Mr Gates said, nervous.
'Ah, and 'e 'ad a row with young Jones, which wasn't nothing but those others trying to down 'im, that bein' a good lad' said maliciously Mr Tupe. Dale asked eagerly if he had suspended him. 'Suspend 'im' said Tupe, 'suspend a fine chap like that, not on yer life, 'e does the work of three in that shop.'
'Well 'e was suspended in the summer wasn't 'e?'
'Yes, 'e were suspended' said Mr Gates hoping to close conversation.
'Ah,' Mr Tupe said,-'and what was that but Aaron Connolly, I know the man, nothing's too low for 'im, I saw 'im go and tell Bridges 'imself Bert was in there, and being as it might be in front of witnesses, the old man 'ad no choice.' Here Mr Tupe had inspiration. 'That was why 'e daint suspend Aaron' he said triumphantly.
Mr Craigan went then to other side of the street and Dale followed him. Then at last Mr Gates followed them, because he feared Mr Craigan. Yet was he ashamed at leaving Tupe.
So came they home at evening. They went in to the house, they washed, and Lily had evening meal ready for them. Mr Dale was excited in his mind. He thought if Bert Jones was sacked chances were he would find no other job in Birmingham. Then he would leave the town, would have to, and go back to that home he said he had in Liverpool. Thought of this put Mr Dale in a good temper.
Lily began saying how Eames' child next door had grown. Mr Gates said Eames was poor sort of a man. But subject of the works was in Mr Dale's mind and he asked how much truth was there in this talk about old Bridges being crowded out.
'I don't know what 'e's told Tupey' said Mr Gates, 'but there's only men of 'is age and young men in that place, so trouble's bound to be between 'em, the younger lot trying to push the older out of the light. There's none that comes between 'em, speakin' of age. And the young chap's crazy like any lamb in t
he field.'
'He's not so crazy as some,' Mr Dale said, 'now take "our" Bert, that's the second time 'e's been suspended in four months.'
'Suspended! Where did you 'ear he'd been suspended? The old man daint suspend 'im' said Mr Gates. Lily smiled. But Mr Craigan broke into conversation. He said:
'If I 'ad a son I wouldn't educate 'im above the station 'e was born in. It's hard enough to be a moulder and 'ave the worry of the job forty-seven hours in the week but to be on the staff, or foreman even, with the man above you doggin' at you and them under you never satisfied, like the young chaps never am nowadays, it aint like living at all. In course they're getting rid of Bridges like they'll get rid of me, seein' I'm an old man now. Another month and we'll be getting the old age pension Joe, and we'll get the sack then. Like Bridges will get the sack, seein' 'e's getting an old man, same as we.'
That same evening Lily Gates went out to meet Bert Jones.
When they met she saw for the first time white, cutting anger in him. He said they must get away, he said that! who had always been the one to draw back. They must go right off at once he said and anxiously she asked what the trouble was, for she knew him that he was not dependable worker. He said trouble? He said what was the matter with her who was so keen on their going and now, when be said they must go directly, wanted to know why?
'Aren't you on a line!' she said pleasantly.
He told her about Bridges, but she thought when they were married he would be quieter, it would be the responsibility would make him so. She told him he must not worry about that. Indirectly then they talked of their going like it might be tomorrow, yet both questioned in their hearts if they would ever go. Then she quieted him. They kissed. She made him talk of other things. Soon she felt him contented again. So again they let their time slip by.
Mr Craigan felt he must act. Tupe now was so thick with Joe – it looked bad his having the face to come up and talk to them – and Lily with her Bert Jones. All this in images appeared in his mind before him.
