“No. He left of his own accord. He was tired of it.”
“Then he’s a miserable, selfish, stupid, useless creature, and for two pins I’d give him a thorough thrashing,” cried Bob. “Do you hear that, Jem?”
Madge tried to check his anger, as her mother was not in the room, but he would not listen to her.
“No, Madgie,” he went on, “I shall let him hear the truth for once in his life, as father’s so easy with him. He doesn’t deserve to have a home to come to when he behaves as he does, caring more for whether he likes his work, or whether he doesn’t, than for seeing mother slave till she’s ready to drop. Do you think she likes toiling from morning to night to keep us all respectable and comfortable, or that father likes shouting himself hoarse all day before he can make people buy things for half what they’re worth, or that Madge enjoys sweeping the stairs and washing up the sauce-pans, or even that Jack or I like our work? You’re the only one that doesn’t seem to think it’s possible to do what you ought, whether you like it or not. You seem to think you were put into the world to enjoy yourself, no matter how inconvenient that may be for other people.”
Jem looked very cast-down, for he was fond of Bob, and liked to have his good opinion. Edie put in a word for him.
“Don’t be too hard on him, Bob. He’s much younger than you, you know.”
“I don’t think it’s possible to be too hard,” he answered. “I’m thoroughly ashamed of him.”
At this point Mrs. Kayll re-entered the room, and directly after the head of the family arrived, Madge having only just finished setting the bread and cheese and cold bacon in readiness. Mr. Kayll was evidently tired out after the day’s hard work, but he had a smile and a nod for each of the young people in turn, and a kiss for his wife, who went to the door to meet him.
While he and his eldest boy ate their supper, Madge put the baby off to sleep in his cradle, and the three little girls said good-night and went to bed, Edie whispering to Jem as she passed him:
“Never mind, old boy, so long as father isn’t angry.”