Recreation of this kind
is not uncommon on Sunday evening at the workmen's clubs; you will
find it announced in the remarkable list of lectures, &c., printed
in certain Sunday newspapers. The company which was exerting itself
in the present instance had at all events an appreciative audience;
laughter and applause broke forth very frequently.
'I'd forgot it was this kind o' thing to-night,' said Hewett, when
he could discover no vacant seat. 'Do you care about it? No more
don't I; let's go down into the readin'-room.'
Downstairs they established themselves at their ease. John ordered
two half-pints of ale--the club supplied refreshment for the body
as well as for the mind--and presently he was more himself.
'How's your wife?' inquired Joseph. 'Better, I hope?'
'I wish I could say so,' answered the other, shaking his head. 'She
hasn't been up since Thursday. She's bad, poor woman! she's bad.'
Joseph murmured his sympathy between two draughts of ale.
'Seen young Kirkwood lately?' Hewett asked, averting his eyes and
assuming a tone of half-absent indifference.
'He's gone away for his holiday; gone into Essex somewhere.
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