Loving, Living, Party Going (36 page)

It was hot and it had been hot all day. Mr Gates had gone out, quite often now alone he went out, and Jim Dale had gone out.

When Lily had tea things put away she came with some darning to back door which opened onto the garden. This evening Mr Craigan sat there.

He smoked pipe. She brought chair and sat on it. She began darning.

Almost whispering he said:

'I'm getting to be an old man.'

'Why grandad, you're not.'

'I am.'

'It's the heat of the day's tired you.'

'It's been very hot.'

She darned his socks.

'I bought those socks three years ago,' he said and she said was another twelve months' wear in them yet. She asked in her mind what he was talking for, and was he going to talk to her about it? She waited.

'My mother' he said then, 'knitted socks that wore longer'n that, and they came farther up the leg. They was very good socks.'

She waited.

'This day' he said 'brought me to mind of the days I was in the fields there and the cider we 'ad. The farmer was bound to give us cider. It was good cider, but it's not such a drink as beer.'

So much talk from him frightened her.

'I mind' he said 'yer Aunt Ellie well.' He spoke cheerfully. 'She was older by nine years than your mother. She married a drover by name of Curley. I remember their getting married. I was in the choir.'

'Was you in the choir grandad?' Lily said from nervousness.

'Ah, I sang in the choir. I ain't been in a church since. Nor I shall go even if I 'ave to bury one of my own.'

'Wouldn't you go the funeral.'

'I would not. Yes I sang when them were married. They made a
fine show. I ate myself sick at the dinner there was after. She went to live with 'em up t'other end of the village. We lived next door to yer mother's parents so I didn't see much of 'er after that. But you'd say she was contented if you'd seen 'er. Curley was a nice young chap by what I can remember of 'im and yer aunt was a great upstanding woman. But she 'adn't the looks your ma had when she grew to be a woman. Any road she ran away from 'im three years after. No one knew where she'd went, she just gone out through the garden and down the road.'

'Didn't they put the police onto 'er?'

'No, Curley was frightened to do that. She went off. I ain't never 'eard of 'er since, nor nobody ain't.'

'And didn't you go away grandad?' She was trembling.

'Yes. Her going off like she did, that worked on me, and I thought I'd try my luck. And it was years after when I was settled in this town and earning good money that I wrote to yer father – I'd been pals with him though younger'n me – to find out 'ow my old folks was getting on. And when 'e read in my letter 'ow I was doing 'e brought your ma and you over to Brummagem. You was a baby then. But I'd've been better where I was. I wouldn't 'ave got the money but I broke the old people's hearts and where am I now, with no one of my own about me? I got no home and the streets is a poor place after the fields.'

'But you got me, and there's Dad, and Jim.'

'You'll be marrying.'

'Well, if I do we'll live in this 'ouse if you'd let us.'

'Would 'e like it? Maybe while you couldn't get a 'ouse of yer own. But not after.'

Neither spoke.

'Ah,' he said, 'she left 'er man and went off with a flashy sort of card, 'e was a groom to some hunting people that lived a mile off. And I left my people soon after without a word to tell them I was going, thinking it was a fine thing to do. I wanted to make my way up in the world. But I'm no more'n a moulder, a sand rat, and will be till they think I'm too old for work. Three pounds a week and lucky to get it. I'd rather be in the country on twenty-five shillings. And what's 'appened to yer Aunt Ellie? D'you suppose 'e's kept her? That sort never do.'

Lily was crying. She feared and loved Mr Craigan.

'No that sort never do' he said, and smoked pipe and did not watch her crying. He got up and went inside and listened in to the wireless.

In morning Mr Dupret came to office. Soon Mr Archer came into his office.

He said good-morning sir and said how was the Chief and Mr Dupret said they hoped to move him into country tomorrow afternoon. Archer said change was bound to do him good and when he got to country home he would be different man altogether and would come back nine years younger.

'In the meantime' he said 'I think we are carrying on very nicely with you at the helm Mr Dupret. It's being a most interesting time for all of us, sir, working together as the team we shall be when you take over the old ship.'

Mr Dupret said crew would be very different when he was captain, would be more able seamen in it, and he could not help laughing at this and Mr Archer tittered.

Then he looked serious and said: 'Look here, Archer,' and Archer said yes sir, 'you know I didn't touch on the subject of Tarver's having another draughtsman when I was last in Birmingham three months ago but I think we ought to see how the land lies about it now.'

Archer said he thought time was ripe. Mr Dupret said he did not want to go too far with old Bridges, after all, he said, Tarver is still subordinate to the old man and must be while Bridges is still works manager, but that was no reason why Tarver should not have one, he said.

'We've lost several orders through it, Mr Dupret.'

Of course, Mr Dupret said, Tarver can't get his drawings out when he's understaffed. But Bridges must not be offended, or rather must be offended as little as possible. What did Archer think Walters thought about it?

'Of course' said Mr Archer, 'Mr Walters is a first class engineer, or was, and you know as well as I Mr Dupret that he's probably done more for the old firm than anyone – always excepting your father, sir. But I cannot get on with him, heaven knows I've tried, but his methods are not mine, his slowness grates on a nature like
mine Mr Dupret. I should certainly not like to try sounding him on the matter.'

'No, I haven't asked you to.'

'Precisely, precisely, but I was afraid perhaps you were expecting me—'

Mr Walters came in. He was loud-voiced this morning.

'Good-morning Dick, how's your father?'

Why should he call me Dick, young Mr Dupret said in his mind, his familiarity was jovial but then he went on thinking any joviality was offensively familiar and was smiling at that while he answered Mr Walters his father was being taken down to country day after tomorrow.

Walters said they were all looking forward to seeing Mr Dupret back amongst them, which angered young Mr Dupret. Then they talked about business. Soon Walters began looking at Archer, expecting him to go and later Walters was glaring at him, but still Archer stayed on, very self conscious, till Mr Walters went off and was first to leave.

Young Mr Dupret saw this and dismissed Archer and was miserable and annoyed at both of them.

Another day and he was talking to Mr Archer about how Bridges would take idea of another draughtsman for Mr Tarver. He said he was not afraid of old Bridges and had taken man off lavatory door just to show Mr Bridges only that. And was also another reason. He thought it had interfered with reasonable liberty of men in the works. He said he thought they would work better for being left alone with as far as possible. After all, he said, it was comfortable factory and the shops were as safe as they could be.

Mr Archer replied yes, they had been very lucky in matter of accidents, but for the one they had had in iron foundry some months back.

'What accident?' said Mr Dupret sharply.

'Why, sir, a wire rope parted and one end in coming down narrowly missed a man.'

'When was this? Why wasn't I told?' Mr Dupret rose from out of chair.

'Three months ago I think sir. I only heard the other day and I
didn't mention it to you as of course I thought Mr Bridges would have reported it to you.'

'This is disgraceful, I didn't even know of it!' Mr Dupret was furious. 'What happened?'

'The wire rope parted, sir, and nearly caught an iron moulder called Craigan. Of course it would have killed the man if he had met it.'

'Of course, yes. Why didn't Bridges tell me?'

'Mr Bridges certainly should have reported the matter. I did not mention it as I felt he was sure to have done so.'

'I suppose he thinks I'm a back number and mustn't be told what's going on. What if he'd killed what's-his-name?'

'He is getting an old man now I'm afraid, Mr Dupret, and he doesn't go round to see for himself that things are in a proper condition.'

He thought to himself yes, yes that was it, hush it up and think he wouldn't get to hear of it, incompetent old loafer, he'd see who was the boss, he'd teach him. Where was Walters? He'd let him see what he thought. He'd show them in their dotage they weren't still kings of old castle and they couldn't impose on him as they'd done on his father. Where was Walters? But perhaps he had better wait till he had calmed down. Yes, he would wait till tomorrow.

'All right, Archer,' he said, and Archer went out delighted.

Had anyone ever heard anything like it, young Mr Dupret shouted to himself, serious accident and no word about it said to head of the business. That swine Bridges. Damn them.

Soon as hooters in these factories sounded for dinner hour young man took his dinner over to where Mr Craigan sat every dinner hour eating bread and meat. This young man was in great state of agitation. He spoke quickly and was saying Andrew (foreman in iron foundry shop) had been at him again, it was persecution, Andrew had said he was used to getting eight of those brackets he was doing now to the five he was getting from him. But he knew, he said, Andrew was lying there as last time any had been off that pattern Will, who was in thick with Andrew, had done not more than four with no word spoke to him. He was saying to Mr Craigan Andrew was dead against him, lord if was another job going he'd go to it quick enough, and he'd like to see Andrew do eight off that
pattern himself, he'd have eight wasters, you'd see, when they came to be cast. Anyroad, he said, if it was possible for a man to do eight it was a day work job anyway, was no bonus or piece work on that job. It wasn't right, he kept on saying, it wasn't right.

Mr Craigan said to go back and do what the foreman told him. When you were young you had to go about and into different shops to learn the trade, but he had not been in this foundry long, which was good shop for experience in general work. Besides that, Mr Craigan said, was no work going just now, and he didn't want to be out of a job, surely.

'You go back and do what the foreman tells you,' he said, and soon this young man said well he would see how it was going to turn out, and if Andrew had in mind to go on dogging him and making it misery for him to work under him or no.

'You go on back,' Mr Craigan said, 'in my time foremen 'ave asked me to do a number more than eight off patterns similar to what you're workin' off.' He said no more and then this young man went away.

Mr Craigan sat there all the hour as he did always and when hooters sounded once more in these factories to tell men was only five minutes before work, he went to gate to put his check in, which he did. He went over then to drinking water tap. It happened Tupe was there. Stream of men was coming through gate. They put in their checks. Tupe was very angry. He had no money left for beer and it angered him to drink water. No one would lend him money. Mr Craigan waited till he was done and then took white enamelled cup which hung down from nail on the wall and which Tupe had been drinking from. He rinsed it out. Mr Tupe saw this and for benefit of men who were coming in he began joking about Mr Craigan rinsing cup out. But he hated Mr Craigan, and, from crowd of men being about, anger rose in him and he made personal injury to himself out of Mr Craigan's rinsing cup out. Then veil passed on his eyes and he shouted insults though he did not mention Mr Craigan's family. Men stood round. Mr Craigan meantime was drinking water. When he was done he rinsed cup out and went away. As he went through the door into factory he said 'ow do to one who was standing with other men there. When he was gone all turned backs on Tupe.

Mr Dupret, after he had waited three days, dictated letter to Mr Bridges in Birmingham. He dictated with many pauses for he was not used to it, but he wanted all London office to know what he had put in this letter.

'Dear Mr Bridges,' it was, 'I have just learned of an accident which happened in the iron foundry some months back which might have caused serious injury or cost the life of a moulder named, I think, Craigan. I am sorry that you should not have notified me re this matter. In future I would be glad if you sent me a full report in the event of similar occurrences. Yrs faithfully,' and he signed name after that and had office girl to type managing director under signature. He was pleased with letter as being very restrained.

So soon as Mr Bridges read it he telephoned to Mr Walters in London. When Mr Walters came to telephone he asked him had he heard anything about letter which he had just got from young Dupret and Walters said no. What tomfoolery was it now, Mr Walters asked? Mr Bridges said it wasn't tomfoolery, news of today was that he was resigning. Mr Walters said come now Arthur. Mr Bridges said he was and Mr Walters said what, Dick? and Bridges said no, Arthur Bridges was sending for his cards after fifty-four years' work. Walters said what was it for God's sake, and Mr Bridges said listen to this and read young Mr Dupret's letter to him. 'Managing director, d'you get that rightly' screamed he down telephone. Mr Walters said bloody cheek. He said he would speak to young fool-now about it and rang off then, leaving Bridges wildly talking.

Saturday afternoon. Lily Gates and Bert Jones went out together.

'Old Mr Craigan was on at me' she said, 'the other night about our going out together.'

'On at you was 'e? What did he say about me?'

' 'E didn't say anything about you. It was all about my Auntie Ellie.'

'What did she do?'

'She ran away with a groom, yes, when she was married.'

'What's that got to do with you and me? Are you going to run off with some other chap when we're married?'