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tingling with the frost which came on the heels of the setting sun。 In the
adjoining bin； two women and half…a…dozen children had picked nine
bushels： so that the five bushels the measurers found in our bin
demonstrated that we had done equally well； for the half… dozen children
had ranged from nine to fourteen years of age。
Five bushels！ We worked it out to eight…pence ha'penny； or seventeen
cents； for two men working three hours and a half。 Fourpence farthing
apiece！ a little over a penny an hour！ But we were allowed only to 〃sub〃
fivepence of the total sum； though the tally…keeper； short of change； gave
us sixpence。 Entreaty was in vain。 A hard…luck story could not move
him。 He proclaimed loudly that we had received a penny more than our
due； and went his way。
Granting； for the sake of the argument； that we were what we
represented ourselves to benamely； poor men and brokethen here was
out position： night was coming on； we had had no supper； much less
dinner； and we possessed sixpence between us。 I was hungry enough to
eat three sixpenn'orths of food； and so was Bert。 One thing was patent。
By doing 16。3 per cent。 justice to our stomachs； we would expend the
sixpence； and our stomachs would still be gnawing under 83。3 per cent。
injustice。 Being broke again； we could sleep under a hedge； which was
not so bad； though the cold would sap an undue portion of what we had
eaten。 But the morrow was Sunday； on which we could do no work；
though our silly stomachs would not knock off on that account。 Here；
then； was the problem： how to get three meals on Sunday； and two on
Monday （for we could not make another 〃sub〃 till Monday evening）。
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We knew that the casual wards were over…crowded； also； that if we
begged from farmer or villager； there was a large likelihood of our going
to jail for fourteen days。 What was to be done？ We looked at each
other in despair …
… Not a bit of it。 We joyfully thanked God that we were not as other
men； especially hoppers； and went down the road to Maidstone； jingling in
our pockets the half…crowns and florins we had brought from London。
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CHAPTER XVTHE SEA WIFE
You might not expect to find the Sea Wife in the heart of Kent； but that
is where I found her； in a mean street； in the poor quarter of Maidstone。
In her window she had no sign of lodgings to let； and persuasion was
necessary before she could bring herself to let me sleep in her front room。
In the evening I descended to the semi… subterranean kitchen； and talked
with her and her old man； Thomas Mugridge by name。
And as I talked to them； all the subtleties and complexities of this
tremendous machine civilisation vanished away。 It seemed that I went
down through the skin and the flesh to the naked soul of it； and in Thomas
Mugridge and his old woman gripped hold of the essence of this
remarkable English breed。 I found there the spirit of the wanderlust
which has lured Albion's sons across the zones； and I found there the
colossal unreckoning which has tricked the English into foolish
squabblings and preposterous fights； and the doggedness and stubbornness
which have brought them blindly through to empire and greatness； and
likewise I found that vast； incomprehensible patience which has enabled
the home population to endure under the burden of it all； to toil without
complaint through the weary years； and docilely to yield the best of its
sons to fight and colonise to the ends of the earth。
Thomas Mugridge was seventy…one years old and a little man。 It was
because he was little that he had not gone for a soldier。 He had remained
at home and worked。 His first recollections were connected with work。
He knew nothing else but work。 He had worked all his days； and at
seventy…one he still worked。 Each morning saw him up with the lark and
afield； a day labourer； for as such he had been born。 Mrs。 Mugridge was
seventy…three。 From seven years of age she had worked in the fields；
doing a boy's work at first； and later a man's。 She still worked； keeping
the house shining； washing； boiling； and baking； and； with my advent；
cooking for me and shaming me by making my bed。 At the end of
threescore years and more of work they possessed nothing； had nothing to
look forward to save more work。 And they were contented。 They
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expected nothing else； desired nothing else。
They lived simply。 Their wants were fewa pint of beer at the end of
the day； sipped in the semi…subterranean kitchen； a weekly paper to pore
over for seven nights hand…running； and conversation as meditative and
vacant as the chewing of a heifer's cud。 From a wood engraving on the
wall a slender； angelic girl looked down upon them； and underneath was
the legend： 〃Our Future Queen。〃 And from a highly coloured
lithograph alongside looked down a stout and elderly lady； with
underneath： 〃Our QueenDiamond Jubilee。〃
〃What you earn is sweetest；〃 quoth Mrs。 Mugridge； when I suggested
that it was about time they took a rest。
〃No； an' we don't want help；〃 said Thomas Mugridge； in reply to my
question as to whether the children lent them a hand。
〃We'll work till we dry up and blow away； mother an' me；〃 he added；
and Mrs。 Mugridge nodded her head in vigorous indorsement。
Fifteen children she had borne； and all were away and gone； or dead。
The 〃baby；〃 however； lived in Maidstone； and she was twenty…seven。
When the children married they had their hands full with their own
families and troubles； like their fathers and mothers before them。
Where were the children？ Ah； where were