Part 69 (2/2)
”Of course, of course!” Edwin interrupted him hastily. In his present mood, it revolted him that a man of between fifty and sixty should be humbly asking as a favour to be allowed to fulfil a pious duty.
”I'm very much obliged to you, sir,” said Big James simply, quite unaware that captious Edwin found his grat.i.tude excessive and servile.
”I'm the last now, sir, of the old glee-party,” he added.
”Really!”
Big James nodded, and said quietly, ”And how's the old gentleman, sir?”
Edwin shook his head.
”I'm sorry, sir,” said Big James.
”I've been up with him all night,” Edwin told him.
”I wonder if you'd mind dropping me a line to Glasgow, sir, if anything happens. I can give you the address. If it isn't--”
”Certainly, if you like.” He tried to be nonchalant ”When are you going?”
”I did think of getting to Crewe before noon, sir. As soon as I've seen to this--” He c.o.c.ked his eye at the copy for the poster.
”Oh, you needn't bother about that,” said Edwin carelessly. ”Go now if you want to.”
”I've got time, sir. Mr Curtenty's coming for me at nine o'clock to drive me to th' polling-booth.”
This was the first time that Edwin had ever heard Big James talk of his private politics. The fact was that Big James was no more anxious than Jos Curtenty and Osmond Orgreave to put himself under the iron heel of his fellow working-man.
”And what's your colour, James?” His smile was half a sneer.
”If you'll pardon me saying so, sir, I'm for Her Most Gracious,” Big James answered with grave dignity.
Three journeymen, pretending to be busy, were listening with all ears from the other side of a case.
”Oh!” exclaimed Edwin, dashed. ”Well, that's all right!”
He walked straight out, put on his hat, and went to the Bleakridge polling-station and voted Labour defiantly, as though with a personal grievance against the polling-clerk. He had a vote, not as lessee of the business premises, but as his father's lodger. He despised Labour; he did not care what happened to Labour. In voting for Labour, he seemed to have the same satisfaction as if from pique he had voted against it because its stupidity had incensed him.
Then, instead of returning him to the shop, his legs took him home and upstairs, and he lay down in his own room.
THREE.
He was awakened by the presence of some one at his bedside, and the whole of his body protested against the disturbance.
”I couldn't make you hear with knocking,” said Dr Heve, ”so I came into the room.”
”h.e.l.lo, doctor, is that you?” Edwin sat up, dazed, and with a sensation of large waves pa.s.sing in slow succession through his head. ”I must have dropped asleep.”
”I hear you had a pretty bad night with him,” the doctor remarked.
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