Evening star., 1925-06-21
THE LIMITS OF DOMINION


silence at table: indeed. ii scorned
mere small talk as being insincere and
! affected politeness. Dinah. though she
would Sabble 19 to the dozen in pri-
vate with the other girls. rarely said
word at meals. Mr.. Eurber was uni
formly taciturn. And the most tact
turn of ali was Ralph. whom nothing
but the need of something that he
could not get himself. or the desire
TO carry on an alteration, could rouse
into speech. None. not even Mary.
dared cross-eNa mine Ralph; being
made of dynamite he might have eX-
ploded and blown the entire house TO
bits.
But something was bound TO happen
that evening. II happened. Maidie, the
red-haired. failed first in self-control.
"Of course, We must be thankful If
he leaves us even a crust now-with
his grand friends and air she snorted,
flushing and lifting her snub nose as
Ralph helped himself to two Jumps of
cheese when there We're only two
Jumps on the dish.
1t was as If she had put a match to
a time fuse: all waited for the bang
that followed. Ralph-sleeves rolled
up, hastily washed face, black finger
nails, rough hair-Ralph started and
glowered, then checked himself. For
once I'm his life he was genuinely
anxious to communicate facts to his
fellow creatures. and the opportunity
had arrived.
Il never saw tn fellow before" he
said, with pride. But his scheme is
to set me- up in business. There's a
works for sale a Ions gshaw. He's
ready to buy il if III take il on. "a nd
he'll find twenty thousand capital he
sides. And now We knew" lie was
careful moi To look al his father
And what did Ne say" Maidie
asked challensinsly. dangerously.
Il said. Who're We codding Of mis-
ter? That's what I said. But he
wasn't codding. He's going back to
London tonight. and he'll come again
next Saturday for my answer
And should you be the boss of a
great big works." Maidie demanded
with calculated incredulity
Yes. miss. | should be the boss. =
With that Ralph suddenly rose.
pushing his Windsor chair Gratingly
across the tiled floor. and passed into
the front room. He was too excited
and triumphant to remain another
moment with the family. He could not
bear the emotional tension of his
triumph. The kitchen was scared by
the unbelievable magnitude of the
event. The meal abruptly ended No
one could eat any more.
Mr.. Furber finished his beer. got I'D
and went to bed. formidably mute.
The girls retired into the scullery.
out of earshot of Ralph, and chatter
ed in whispers. They knew naught
except what Ralph had told them. and
yet they managed quite easily to find
subject matter for more than an
hours glib. swift. dramatic discus
sion of the terrific situa ton.
WHEN Ralph. last of all. went TO
bed, lea wing the ground floor to
dark night and the whippet (who
slept in the scullery unless under cor.
rection for sins) he found that his
father had not put the candle out
The aSeing man. with heavy lower
lip protruding, lay in wait for the SON.
He brushed his beard from the back
Of it upward into the air and said
What didst say TO that there
gentleman is called?
Nothing" answered Ralph sullen-
lv. flinging off his boots with noise
Il said AS | should speak to you
about it
And what need to speak 10 yer
feyther about it? Haven't We got tn
sense to settle it for yersen? What
dost want TO so into business for?
a
workman. ] might ha' gone into
business on me own. Many an offer
I've had. Lots wanted TO be partners
wi me. But would |? I've seen too
many good workmen ruined by bit
o capital. They think they're going
to turn tn town upside down. paying
wages and keeping books and fitting
'emselves out l. Jackets and neckties
and going into tn saloon-bar stead O.
tn bar-parlor. And in six months
there's Writs out against em. And
then can they so back TO an honest
job? They can ma. and they dunna.
neither. Ye'Ve got good job at
F'yden's. G'yden's was the old name
of the r. T. T.. &. before it became
limited and grand. Ye mayn't think
it. but | can see We earning 10 pun a
week at F'yden's afore we're 80. Ten
pun week. And they'll give We
s'methins for Yer parents. too
they'll give We share. And no risk
and no nonsense. And We want to
ask Yer feyther whether We ought 10
chuck up a 10-pun-a-week job for this
skylarkins wi somebody we've never
heard of wonder who's been stuff
ing him up with tale about you,
my lad.
Tsalph's suddenly swollen pride was
pricked He saw that he was nobody
after all-or almost nobody. The
great offer OF the afternoon might be
marvellous. but it vas silly-it was a
fiighty offer. the offer of q flibber-
tisibbet in fine clothes. And also
Ralph was secretly afraid of the fear
full responsibilities which would at
tend on acceptance of the offer. And
the habit of obedience to the re-
spectacle tyrant of the home was
str in, hi Gtl he he
to feel extremely young and diff1dent.
Well" he said at length sharply
to his father. his nose in the pillow
II don't know what we're making all
this to-do about. I'm not for taking
it on. and | never was for taking it
on. But I suppose | can mention it
without having me head snapped off,"
A daring speech. LAlso a lie. For
he had certainly intended to accept
the offerD He had had his head snap