Later in the day Mr. Drummond found time to visit the men at the Infirmary, and later still, to call at their homes and carry the cheering news that both were likely to do well.
"He's a good sort, that new manager," was the opinion expressed by the anxious wives, to whom his coming was as a ray of sunlight. "It isn't so many that would have called themselves. They would have thought it plenty to send word," said the one wife to her invalid neighbour, after Mr. Drummond's departure. "He feels for folks, because he evens himself to them. He said he once got hurt, and he knew what his missis went through, when she heard that he couldn't be brought home."
"He asked me if my man were in a club, and how we should get on while he was laid by. I said we should be all right there, and the two lads were working."
"He asked me too. And that was not what everybody would ha' done. Masters sometimes like to know as little as they can about the men's money matters. If they don't know that you have nothing coming in, though they can always have a pretty good guess, you see, they don't feel as anybody can blame them for not putting their hands in their pockets. I don't say it to find fault. Masters often have their minds full enough, and not too much in their pockets, after all's said and done. They would often help if they could, but they can't keep all the wives and families, when the men are doing naught. And they are often very ill plagued with the awkwardness of the men ¹ going off drinking just when they're busiest, and such-like work."
¹ "Very ill plagued." A common expression in Lancashire, denoting domestic troubles through slack work or sickness.
The words were true enough. Rutherford's knew what it was to be fined for non-fulfilment of a contract, now and then, through the sheer perversity of the less steady amongst their workpeople. There would be bitter complaints if there were not work enough to keep all going, and then, very often, when all was in full swing, some of those who had grumbled most loudly were the first to shirk their employment and stroll off to the public-house, whence they could neither be coaxed nor driven.
When pay time came on Friday evening, they would come up with the rest and hang about, until the steady workmen had received their well-earned wages. Then they would lounge up to the pay desk and plead for an advance on work partially done, or yet to be commenced, and make many a promise of future steadiness.
Perhaps they were met by a stern refusal, and had to listen to a sharp lecture on the folly of their ways and the misery they entailed on others by their evil doing.
Meanwhile, half clad, worn-looking women would be waiting the result with what patience they might.
The knowledge of this fact and the thought of the children who would have to go hungry if no advance were made, generally secured it, though at Rutherford's the cashier often made it a condition that the wife should be called to receive the money. It made little difference in the long run, for, unless she were very strong minded indeed, she was sure to have to yield up enough to pay the public-house score before she could begin her calculations for spending the little balance left in her hands. The two women who were comparing notes about the new manager were happy in having steady husbands, and being spared such experiences.