ROBERTS. They say, workin' so hard, they must have some
pleasure.
ENID. But surely not low pleasure like that.
MRS. ROBERTS. [A little resentfully.] Roberts never touches a drop;
and he's never had a bet in his life.
ENID. Oh! but he's not a com----I mean he's an engineer----
a superior man.
MRS. ROBERTS. Yes, M'm. Roberts says they've no chance of other
pleasures.
ENID. [Musing.] Of course, I know it's hard.
MRS. ROBERTS. [With a spice of malice.] And they say gentlefolk's
just as bad.
ENID. [With a smile.] I go as far as most people, Annie, but you
know, yourself, that's nonsense.
MRS. ROBERTS. [With painful effort.] A lot 'o the men never go near
the Public; but even they don't save but very little, and that goes
if there's illness.
ENID. But they've got their clubs, have n't they?
MRS. ROBERTS. The clubs only give up to eighteen shillin's a week,
M'm, and it's not much amongst a family. Roberts says workin' folk
have always lived from hand to mouth. Sixpence to-day is worth more
than a shillin' to-morrow, that's what they say.
ENID. But that's the spirit of gambling.
MRS. ROBERTS. [With a sort of excitement.] Roberts says a working
man's life is all a gamble, from the time 'e 's born to the time 'e
dies.
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