In making the detour through the Cock Yard to reach Saint Luke's Square
again at the top of it, the only members of the Orgreave clan whom they
encountered were Jimmie and Johnnie, who, on hearing of the
disappearance of their father and Janet, merely pointed out that their
father and Janet were notoriously always getting themselves lost, owing
to gross carelessness about whatever they happened to be doing. The
youths then departed, saying that the Bursley show was nothing, and that
they were going to Hanbridge; they conveyed the idea that Hanbridge was
the only place in the world for self-respecting men of fashion. But
before leaving they informed Edwin that a fellow at the corner of the
Square was letting out rather useful barrels on lease. This fellow
proved to be an odd-jobman who had been discharged from the Duke of
Wellington Vaults in the market-place for consistently intemperate
language, but whose tongue was such that he had persuaded the landlord
on this occasion to let him borrow a dozen stout empty barrels, and the
police to let him dispose them on the pavement. Every barrel was
occupied, and, perceiving this, Edwin at once became bold with the
barrel-man. He did not comfortably fancy himself perched prominent on a
barrel with Hilda Lessways by his side, but he could enjoy talking about
it, and he wished to show Hilda that he could be as dashing as those
young sparks, Jimmie and Johnnie.
"Now, mester!" shouted the barrel-man thickly, in response to Edwin's
airy remark, "these 'ere two chaps'll shunt off for th' price of a
quart!" He indicated a couple of barrel-tenants of his own tribe, who
instantly jumped down, touching their soiled caps. They were part of
the barrel-man's machinery for increasing profits. Edwin could not
withdraw. His very cowardice forced him to be audacious. By the time
he had satisfied the clawing greed of three dirty hands, the two barrels
had cost him a shilling. Hilda's only observation was, as Edwin helped
her to the plateau of the barrel: "I do wish they wouldn't spit on their
money." All barrels being now let to _bona fide_ tenants and paid for,
the three men sidled hastily away in order to drink luck to Sunday
schools in the Duke of Wellington's Entire. And Edwin, mounting the
barrel next to Hilda's, was thinking: "I've been done over that job. I
ought to have got them for sixpence." He saw how expensive it was,
going about with delicately nurtured women. Never would he have offered
a barrel to Maggie, and even had he done so Maggie would assuredly have
said that she could make shift well enough without one.
"It's simply perfect for seeing," exclaimed Hilda, as he achieved her
altitude. Her tone was almost cordial. He felt surprisingly at ease.
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