Dark Passage by Frances Burke

Author:Frances Burke [Frances Burke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780719810107
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

NICOLA HAD THE opportunity to complete her assessment of the three men when Hugh Owen asked her to attend a secret union meeting with him. Having limited her visits to Eleanor, in order to avoid Andrew, and needing a break from her evening studies, Nicola agreed. She was eager to extend her knowledge of both the man and of the union movement, which seemed to her an exciting indicator of the future.

That evening they travelled in a closed carriage to an area of wool stores where the narrow streets were blank-faced and ill lit, the high meshed windows barely visible from the footway. Upon entering the building from a side lane too narrow for a vehicle, they were scrutinized by a doorkeeper. This secretiveness would have amused Nicola, but for the cold examination of the watchmen guarding the entrance and, for that matter, the general air of her present company. It would have been an exaggeration to call it menacing, but she was glad of Hugh’s presence beside her.

The men gathering in the empty warehouse were purposeful and oddly silent. Nicola mentally contrasted their manner with the meetings of the women’s groups where the preliminary noise was more deafening than a cage full of lorikeets.

In the light of a few weak gas flares Hugh found her a place on a bench well to the side, although most people sat on the floor or crowded against the dirty brick walls. There had been no preparation made for them, no comforts provided. The air was already oppressive with the smell of sweat and dirt. Many had obviously come from their work, with no time to wash or change their clothes, had they been so inclined. A few wore suits, but most were in the workman’s uniform of hard wearing trousers, patched shirts and threadbare jackets, and boots often broken beyond repair. The few women present were equally poorly clad. Their faces had the lined, weary expression familiar to Nicola from her visits to homes and factories.

Early speakers urged the need for change to the laws governing work practice and the enforcement of those statutes already in place – laws meant to benefit the workers, but usually ignored by management. Much of what was said made good sense to Nicola. She found herself applauding with the audience a proposal for regulation of work hours to no more than eleven for boys under sixteen years.

Someone spoke of the dangerous conditions in many factories. Accidents were cited, some so appalling that Nicola was sickened, and at the same time grateful that Josh had got off comparatively lightly.

As time passed the mood of the gathering changed. The crowd had begun by giving quiet attention to the speakers, but as various ones rose, had their say, then returned to their places, a ripple of increasing excitement ran through the hall. Hugh stiffened, then bent to whisper in Nicola’s ear.

‘This is what I came for.’

Nicola craned to see a small, nondescript man move forward to the front, parting the crowd like a reaper through a field crop.

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