At this apparently absurd question several of those who had hitherto been attentive listeners laughed derisively; it was really very difficult to listen patiently to such nonsense.
“Of course they don’t,” answered Harlow scornfully. “They buy the things they want with it.”
“Do you think that most of them manage to save a part of their wages—put it away in the bank.”
“Well, I can speak for meself,” replied Harlow amid laughter. “It takes me all my bloody time to pay my rent and other expenses and to keep my little lot in shoe leather, and it’s dam little I spend on beer; p’r’aps a tanner or a bob a week at the most.”
“A single man can save money if he likes,” said Slyme.
“I’m not speaking of single men,” replied Owen. “I’m referring to those who live natural lives.”
“What about all the money what’s in the Post Office Savings Bank, and Building and Friendly Societies?” said Crass.
“A very large part of that belongs to people who are in business, or who have some other source of income than their own wages. There are some exceptionally fortunate workers who happen to have good situations and higher wages than the ordinary run of workmen. Then there are some who are so placed—by letting lodgings, for instance—that they are able to live rent free. Others whose wives go out to work; and others again who have exceptional jobs and work a lot of overtime—but these are all exceptional cases.”
“I say as no married workin’ man can save any money at all!” shouted Harlow, “not unless ’e goes without some of even the few things we are able to get—and makes ’is wife and kids go without as well.”
“’Ear, ’ear,” said everybody except Crass and Slyme, who were both thrifty working men, and each of them had some money saved in one or other of the institutions mentioned.