Tales of Mean Streets | Page 8

meeting, Billy often went, on the off chance. But his lot was chiefly disappointment: wherefore he became more especially careful to furnish himself ere he left home.
For certain weeks cash came less freely than ever from the two women. Lizer spoke of providing for the necessities of the expected child: a manifestly absurd procedure, as Billy pointed out, since, if they were unable to clothe or feed it, the duty would fall on its grandmother. That was law, and nobody could get over it. But even with this argument, a shilling cost him many more demands and threats than it had used, and a deal more general trouble.
At last Lizer ceased from going to the pickle factory, and could not even help Billy's mother at the mangle for long. This lasted for near a week, when Billy, rising at ten with a bad mouth, resolved to stand no nonsense, and demanded two shillings.
'Two bob! Wot for?' Lizer asked.
'`Cos I want it. None o' yer lip!'
'Ain't got it,' said Lizer, sulkily.
'That's a bleed'n' lie!'
'Lie yerself!'
'I'll break y'in 'arves, ye blasted 'eifer!' He ran at her throat and forced her back over a chair. 'I'll pull yer face auf! If y' don't give me the money, gawblimy, I'll do for ye!'
Lizer strained and squalled. 'Le' go! You'll kill me an' the kid too!' she grunted, hoarsely. Billy's mother ran in and threw her arms about him, dragging him away. 'Don't, Billy!' she said, in terror. 'Don't, Billy--not now! You'll get in trouble. Come away. She might go auf, an' you'd get in trouble!'
Billy Chope flung his wife over and turned to his mother. 'Take yer 'ands auf me,' he said; 'go on, or I'll gi' ye somethin' for yerself!' And he punched her in the breast by way of illustration.
'You shall 'ave what I've got, Billy, if it's money,' the mother said. 'But don't go an' git yerself in trouble, don't. Will a shillin' do!'
'No, it won't. Think I'm a bloomin' kid? I mean 'avin' two bob this mornin'.'
'I was a-keepin' it for the rent, Billy but--'
'Yus; think o' the bleed'n' lan'lord 'fore me, doncher?' And he pocketed the two shillings. 'I ain't settled with you yut, my gal,' he added to Lizer; 'mikin' about at 'ome an' 'idin' money. You wait a bit!'
Lizer had climbed into an erect position, and, gravid and slow, had got as far as the passage. Mistaking this for a safe distance, she replied with defiant railings.
Billy made for her with a kick that laid her on the lower stairs, and, swinging his legs round his mother as she obstructed him, entreating him not to get in trouble, he attempted to kick again in a more telling spot. But a movement among the family upstairs and a tap at the door hinted of interference, and he took himself off.
Lizer lay doubled up on the stairs, howling; but her only articulate cry was: 'Gawd 'elp me, it's comin'!'
Billy went to the meeting of the unemployed, and cheered a proposal to storm the Tower of London. But he did not join the procession following a man with a handkerchief on a stick, who promised destruction to every policeman in his path: for he knew the fate of such processions. With a few others he hung about the nearest tavern for awhile, on the chance of the advent of a flush sailor from St. Katherine's, disposed to treat out-o'-workers. Then he went alone to a quieter beer-house and took a pint or two at his own expense. A glance down the music-hall bills hanging in the bar having given him a notion for the evening, he bethought himself of dinner, and made for home.
The front door was open, and in the first room, where the mangle stood, there were no signs of dinner. And this was at three o'clock! Billy pushed into the room behind, demanding why.
'Billy,' Lizer said, faintly, from her bed, 'look at the baby!'
Something was moving feebly under a flannel petticoat. Billy pulled the petticoat aside, and said: 'That? Well, it is a measly snipe.' It was a blind, hairless humunculus, short of a foot long, with a skinny face set in a great skull. There was a black bruise on one side from hip to armpit. Billy dropped the petticoat and said: 'Where's my dinner?'
'I dunno,' Lizer responded, hazily. 'Wot's the time?'
'Time? Don't try to kid me. You git up; go on. I want my dinner!'
'Mother's gittin' it, I think,' said Lizer. 'Doctor had to slap 'im like anythink 'fore `e'd cry. 'E don't cry now much. 'E--'
'Go on; out ye git. I do' want no more damn jaw. Git my dinner!'
'I'm a-gittin' of it, Billy,' his mother said, at the door. She had begun when he first entered. 'It won't be a minute.'
'You come 'ere;