Yet you submit tamely to have your life shortened by slow starvation, overwork, lack of proper boots and clothing, and though having often to turn out and go to work when you are so ill that you ought to be in bed receiving medical care.' Easton made no reply: he knew that all this was true, but he was not without a large share of the false pride which prompts us to hide our poverty and to pretend that we are much better off than we really are.
He was at that moment wearing the pair of second-hand boots that Ruth had bought for him, but he had told Harlow--who had passed some remark about them--that he had had them for years, wearing them only for best.
He felt very resentful as he listened to the other's talk, and Owen perceived it, but nevertheless he continued: 'Unless the present system is altered, that is all we have to look forward to; and yet you're one of the upholders of the present system--you help to perpetuate it!' ''Ow do I help to perpetuate it ?' demanded Easton.
'By not trying to find out how to end it--by not helping those who are trying to bring a better state of things into existence.

Even if you are indifferent to your own fate--as you seem to be--you have no right to be indifferent to that of the child for whose existence in this world you are responsible.

Every man who is not helping to bring about a better state of affairs for the future is helping to perpetuate the present misery, and is therefore the enemy of his own children.

There is no such thing as being natural: we must either help or hinder.' As Owen opened the door to paint its edge, Bert came along the passage.
'Look out!' he cried, 'Misery's comin' up the road.

'E'll be 'ere in a minit.' It was not often that Easton was glad to hear of the approach of Nimrod, but on this occasion he heard Bert's message with a sigh of relief.
'I say,' added the boy in a whisper to Owen, 'if it comes orf--I mean if you gets the job to do this room--will you ask to 'ave me along of you ?' 'Yes, all right, sonny,' replied Owen, and Bert went off to warn the others.
'Unaware that he had been observed, Nimrod sneaked stealthily into the house and began softly crawling about from room to room, peeping around corners and squinting through the cracks of doors, and looking through keyholes.