By-and-by there was a terrible knocking and hammering close beside me, getting louder and louder every moment; and yet it didnt seem to matter to me, for I hardly knew what was going on, though the voices came nearer and the noise plainer, and at last Ive a bit of recollection of hearing some one say Fetch brandy, and I wondered whether they meant Barkby, while I could feel the fresh air coming upon me. Then I seemed to waken up a bit, and see the daylight through a big hole, where there was ever so much rough broken bricks and mortar between me and the light; and next thing I recollect is lying upon a mattress, with a fine gentleman leaning over me, and holding my hand in his.
Dont, I says in a whisper; Its all sutty. Then I see him smile, and he asked me how I was.
Oh, there aint no bones broke, I says; only Barkbyll half kill me.
What for? says another gentleman.
Why, coming down the wrong chimbley, I says; and then, warming up a bit with my wrongs, But twarnt my fault, I says. Who could tell tother from which, when there warnt no numbers nor nothink on em, and they was all alike, so as you didnt know which to come down, and him a swearing acause you was so long? Where is he? I says in a whisper.
One looked at tother, and there was six or seven people about me; for I was lying on the mattress put on the floor close aside a great hole in the wall, and a heap o bricks and mortar.
Who? says the first gent, who was a doctor.
Why, Barkby, I says; my guvnor, who sent me up number sevens chimbley.
Oh, hes not here, says someone. This aint number seven; this is number ten. Send to seven, he says.
Then they began talking a bit; and I heard something said about poor boy, and fearful groans, and horrid position; and they thought I didnt hear em, for Id got my eyes shut, meaning to sham Abram when Barkby came, for fear he should hurt me; but I neednt have shammed, for I couldnt neither stand nor sit up for a week arter; and I believe arter all, its that has had something to do with me being so husky-voiced.
Old Barkby never hit me a stroke, and I believe arter all he was sorry for me; but a sweeps is a queer life even now, though afore the act was passed some poor boys was used cruel, and more than one got stuck in a floo, to be pulled out dead.
Chapter Six. My Sheffield Patient
parted. I shant wait till Sunday, but run over on Wednesday night.
I dont know, Ill see, I said; and then we parted.
I went out that afternoon happy and light-hearted, I came back mad and angry. He wants me to go with him to talk to the old people, while he can chatter, and say empty nothings to that girl, who is as much too good for him as she is for
Me! I said after a pause, for I seemed to grow sensible all at once, and to see that I was making myself what I called rather stupid. Then I began to take myself to task, and to consider about the state of affairs, seeing how that John Rosss visits were evidently favoured by the old people, perhaps by their daughter, and therefore, why was I to thrust myself in the way, and, besides being miserable myself, make two or three others the same?
Ill go to bed and have a good nights rest, I said, and so forget all about it.
How easy it is to make ones arrangements, but how hard sometimes to follow them out! I had no sleep at all that night; and so far from getting up and going to begin the fresh weeks work light-hearted and happy, and determined not to pay any more visits along with John Ross, I was dull, disheartened, and worrying myself as to whether Jenny Lee cared anything for my companion.
If she does, I said to myself, Ill keep away, but if she does not, why may she not be brought to think about me?
Somehow or another, John Ross had always made companion of me, in spite of our having very different opinions upon certain subjects. He was for, and I was strongly against trades unions. He always used to tell me that he should convert me in time; but although we had been intimate for three years, that time had not come yet. On the contrary, certain outrages that had disgusted the working men, had embittered me against the unions. However, we kept friends; and it was not upon that question that he became my most bitter enemy.
After many a long consultation with myself, I had determined to go with Ross to the Lees only once more, and had gone; but somehow that only once more grew into another and another visit; till from going with John Ross alone, I got into the habit of calling without him, and was always well received. Jenny was pleasant and merry, and chatty, and the old folks were sociable; and the pleasure derived from these visits smothered the remorse I might otherwise have felt, for I could plainly see, from John Rosss manner, how jealous and annoyed he was. And yet his visits always seemed welcome. There was the same cheery greeting from the old folks, the same ready hand-shake from Jenny; but matters went on until, from being friends, John Ross and I furiously hated one another, even to complete avoidance; while, from the honest, matured thoughts of later years, I can feel now that it was without cause, Jennys feelings towards us being as innocent and friendly as ever dwelt in the breast of a true-hearted English girl.