BOOK THE SECOND - REAPING
5. Chapter V - Men and Masters (continued)
Stephen stood with the open door in his hand, waiting to know if
anything more were expected of him.
'Just stop a moment,' said Mr. Bounderby, excessively red in the
face. 'I told you, the last time you were here with a grievance,
that you had better turn about and come out of that. And I also
told you, if you remember, that I was up to the gold spoon look-
out.'
'I were not up to 't myseln, sir; I do assure yo.'
'Now it's clear to me,' said Mr. Bounderby, 'that you are one of
those chaps who have always got a grievance. And you go about,
sowing it and raising crops. That's the business of your life, my
friend.'
Stephen shook his head, mutely protesting that indeed he had other
business to do for his life.
'You are such a waspish, raspish, ill-conditioned chap, you see,'
said Mr. Bounderby, 'that even your own Union, the men who know you
best, will have nothing to do with you. I never thought those
fellows could be right in anything; but I tell you what! I so far
go along with them for a novelty, that I'll have nothing to do with
you either.'
Stephen raised his eyes quickly to his face.
'You can finish off what you're at,' said Mr. Bounderby, with a
meaning nod, 'and then go elsewhere.'
'Sir, yo know weel,' said Stephen expressively, 'that if I canna
get work wi' yo, I canna get it elsewheer.'
The reply was, 'What I know, I know; and what you know, you know.
I have no more to say about it.'
Stephen glanced at Louisa again, but her eyes were raised to his no
more; therefore, with a sigh, and saying, barely above his breath,
'Heaven help us aw in this world!' he departed.
|