贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > to him that hath >

第15章

to him that hath-第15章

小说: to him that hath 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



not a good man。  He knows his job from the ground up。〃

〃Knows too much;〃 said Gilby。  〃Wants to run everything and
everybody。  You can't tell him anything。  And you'd think he was
a Brigadier…General to hear him giving us orders。〃

〃You were at the front; Gilby?〃

〃I was; for three years。〃

〃You know what discipline is?〃

〃I do that; and I know too the difference between a Corporal and a
Company Commander。  I know an officer when I see him。  But a brass
hat don't make a General。〃

〃I won't stand for insubordination in my mills; Gilby。  You must
take orders from my foreman。  You know me; Gilby。  You've been long
enough with me for that。〃

〃You treat a man fair; Mr。 Maitland; and I never kicked at your
orders。  Ain't that so?〃

Maitland nodded。

〃But this young dude〃

〃'Dude'?  What do you mean; 'dude'?  He's no dude!〃

〃Oh; he's so stuck on himself that he gives me the wearisome
willies。  Look here; other folks has been to the war。  He needn't
carry his chest like a blanked bay window。〃

〃Look here; Gilby; just quit swearing in this room。〃  The cold blue
eyes bored into Gilby's hot face。

〃I beg pardon; sir。  It's a bad habit I've got; but thatthat Tony
Perrotte has got my goat and I'm through with him。〃

〃All right; Gilby。  If you don't like your job you know what you
can do;〃 said Maitland coldly。

〃You mean I can quit?〃 enquired Gilby hotly。

〃I mean there's only one boss in these works; and that's me。  And
my foreman takes my orders and passes them along。  Those that don't
like them needn't take them。〃

〃We demand our rights as〃 began Mr。 Wigglesworth heatedly。

〃Excuse me; sir。  'A should like to enquir…r…e if it is your…r
or…rder…rs that your…r for…r…man should use blasphemious language
to your…r men?〃

The cool; firm; rasping voice cut through Mr。 Wigglesworth's
sputtering noise like a circular saw through a pine log。

Mr。 Maitland turned sharply upon the speaker。

〃What is your name; my man?〃 he enquired。

〃Ma name is Malcolm McNish。  'A doot ye have na har…r…d it。  But
the name maitters little。  It's the question 'A'm speerin'asking
at ye。〃

Here was no amateur in the business of Grievance Committees。  His
manner was that of a self…respecting man dealing with a fellow…man
on terms of perfect equality。  There was a complete absence of
Wigglesworth's noisy bluster; as also of Gilby's violent profanity。
He obviously knew his ground and was ready to hold it。  He had a
case and was prepared to discuss it。  There was no occasion for
heat or bluster or profanity。  He was prepared to discuss the
matter; man to man。

Mr。 Maitland regarded him for a moment or two with keen steady
gaze。

〃Where do you work; McNish?〃 he enquired of the Scot。

〃A'm workin' the noo in the sawmill。  A'm a joiner to trade。〃

〃Then Perrotte is not your foreman?〃

〃That is true;〃 said McNish quietly。

〃Then personally you have no grievance against him?〃  Mr。 Maitland
had the air of a man who has scored a bull at the first shot。

〃Ay; A have an' the men taethe men I represent have〃

〃And you assume to speak for them?〃

〃They appoint me to speak for them。〃

〃And their complaint is?〃

〃Their complaint is that he is no fit to be a foreman。〃

〃Ah; indeed!  And you are here solely on their word〃

〃No; not solely; but pairtly。  A know by experience and A hae
har…r…d the man; and he's no fit for his job; A'm tellin' you。〃

〃I suppose you know the qualifications of a foreman; McNish?〃
enquired Mr。 Maitland with the suspicion of sarcasm in his voice。

〃Ay; A do that。〃

〃And how; may I ask; have you come to the knowledge?〃

〃A dinna seeI do not see the bearing of the question。〃

〃Only this; that you and those you represent place your judgment
as superior to mine in the choice of a foreman。  It would be
interesting to know upon what grounds。〃

〃I have been a foreman myself。  But there are two points of view in
this questionthe point of view of the management and that of the
worker。  We have the one point of view; you have the other。  And
each has its value。  Ours is the more important。〃

〃Indeed!  And why; pray?〃

〃Yours has chiefly to do with profits; ours with human life。〃

〃Very interesting indeed;〃 said Mr。 Maitland; 〃but it happens that
profits and human life are somewhat closely allied〃

〃Aye; but wi' you profits are the primary consideration and
humanity the secondary。  Wi' us humanity is the primary。〃

〃Very interesting; indeed。  But I must decline your premise。  You
are a new man here and so I will excuse you the impudence of
charging me with indifference to the well…being of my men。〃

〃You put wur…r…ds in my mouth; Mr。 Maitland。  A said nae sic
thing;〃 said McNish。  〃But your foreman disna' know his place; and
he must be changed。〃

〃'Must;' eh?〃  The word had never been used to Mr。 Maitland since
his own father fifty years before had used it。  It was an
unfortunate word for the success of the interview。  〃'Must;' eh?〃
repeated Mr。 Maitland with rising wrath。  〃I'd have you know;
McNish; that the man doesn't live that says 'must' to me in regard
to the men I choose to manage my business。〃

〃Then you refuse to remove yere foreman?〃

〃Most emphatically; I do;〃 said Mr。 Maitland with glints of fire in
his blue eyes。

〃Verra weel; so as we know yere answer。  There is anither matter。〃

〃Yes?  Well; be quick about it。〃

〃A wull that。  Ye dinna pay yere men enough wages。〃

〃How do you know I don't?〃 said Mr。 Maitland rising from his chair。

〃A have examined certain feegures which I shall be glad to submit
tae ye; in regard tae the cost o' leevin' since last ye fixed the
wage。  If yere wage was right then; it's wrang the noo。〃  Under the
strain Mr。 Maitland's boring eyes and increasing impatience the
Doric flavour of McNish's speech grew richer and more guttural;
varying with the intensity of his emotion。

〃And what may these figures be?〃 enquired Mr。 Maitland with a voice
of contempt。

〃These are the figures prepared by the Labour Department of your
Federal Government。  I suppose they may be relied upon。  They show
the increased cost of living during the last five years。  You know
yeresel' the increase in wages。  Mr。 Maitland; I am told ye are a
just man; an' we ask ye tae dae the r…r…right。  That's all; sir。〃

〃Thank you for your good opinion; my man。  Whether I am a just man
or not is for my own conscience alone。  As to the wage question;
Mr。 Wickes will tell you; the matter had already been taken up。
The result will be announced in a week or so。〃

〃Thank you; sir。  Thank you; sir;〃 said Mr。 Wigglesworth。  〃We felt
sure it would only be necessary to point (h)out the right course to
you。  I may say I took the same (h)identical (h)attitude with my
fellow workmen。  I sez to them; sez I; 'Mr。 Maitland'

〃That will do; Wigglesworth;〃 said Mr。 Maitland; cutting him short。
〃Have you anything more to say?〃 he continued; turning to McNish。

〃Nothing; sir; except to express the hope that you will reconsider
yere attitude as regards the foreman。〃

〃You may take my word for it; I will not;〃 said Mr。 Maitland;
snapping his words off with his teeth。

〃At least; as a fair…minded man; you will look into the matter;〃
said McNish temperately。

〃I shall do as I think best;〃 said Mr。 Maitland。

〃It would be wiser。〃

〃Do you threaten me; sir?〃  Mr。 Maitland leaned over his desk
toward the calm and rugged Scot; his eyes flashing indignation。

〃Threaten ye?  Na; na; threats are for bairns。  Yere no a bairn;
but a man an' a wise man an' a just; A doot。  A'm gie'in' ye
advice。  That's all。  Guid day。〃

He turned away from the indignant Mr。 Maitland; put his hat on his
head and walked from the room; followed by the other members of the
Committee; with the exception of Mr。 Wigglesworth who lingered with
evidently pacific intentions。

〃This; sir; is a most (h)auspicious (h)era; sir。  The (h)age of
reason and justice 'as dawned; an'〃

〃Oh; get out; Wigglesworth。  Haven't you made all your speeches
yet?  The time for the speeches is past。  Good day。〃

He turned to his bookkeeper。

〃Wickes; bring me the reports turned in by Perrotte; at once。〃

Mr。 Maitland's manner was frankly; 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的