The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
began to deliberate whether he might not rest for another five minutes, but he had been such a long time already on his errand that he dismissed the thought. The minute hand was now upright, and it was time to go on.
Just as he was about to get up a harsh voice behind him said:
'How much longer are you going to sit there?'
Bert started up guiltily and found himself confronted by Mr Rushton, who was regarding him with an angry frown, whilst close by towered the colossal figure of the obese Sweater, the expression on his greasy countenance betokening the pain he experienced at beholding such an appalling example of juvenile indolence.
'What do yer mean by sich conduct?' demanded Rushton, indignantly. 'The idea of sitting there like that, when most likely the men are waiting for them things!'
Crimson with shame and confusion, the boy made no reply.
'You've been there a long time,' continued Rushton, 'I've been watchin' you all the time I've been comin' down the road.'
Bert tried to speak to explain why he had been resting, but his mouth and his tongue had become quite parched from terror and he was unable to articulate a single word.
'You know, that's not the way to get on in life, my boy,' observed Sweater, lifting his forefinger and shaking his fat head reproachfully.
'Get along with you at once!' Rushton said roughly, 'I'm surprised at yer! The idear! Sitting down in my time!'
This was quite true. Rushton was not merely angry, but astonished at the audacity of the boy. That anyone in his employment should dare to have the impertinence to sit down in his time was incredible.
The boy lifted the handle of the cart and once more began to push it up the hill. It seemed heavier now than ever, but he managed to get on somehow. He kept glancing back after Rushton and Sweater, who presently turned a corner and were lost to view; then he ran the cart to the kerb again to have a breath. He couldn't have kept up much further without a spell even if they had still been watching him, but he didn't rest for more than about half a minute this time, because he was afraid they might be peeping round the corner.
After this he gave up the lamp-post system and halted for a minute or so at regular short intervals. In this way he at
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