metaphorically and physically. Whenever Bateman, the business director, came down from London to visit the firm, Rawdon usually took him to the shops where the exact progress of the work could be seen and proposed innovations illustrated more graphically than in the office. Morris saw them from a distance deep in conversation, and instinctively hung back.
His guide, however, had no such scruples as to the sanctity of a directors’ meeting. Apple in hand she marched up to Rawdon.
‘A gentleman to see you, sir.’ Her part played, she gave her attention to a more important matter. The foreman of the engine shop, passing by, stopped and regarded her.
‘Hey, Gladys, don’t you know any better than that up in the office?’ he inquired pleasantly. ‘Standin’ eating an apple in the middle of the shop! Settin’ a bad example to the men. Ought to be ashamed of yourself – I would. I wouldn’t have it if this was my shop.’
One of the carpenters laid down his work. ‘Don’t you pay no attention to him,’ he said. ‘He’d have apple and all if this was his shop.’
The little girl grinned shyly and strolled away. Rawdon levered himself slowly off the bright wooden fuselage and went to meet Morris, frowning a little. He had no place for this chap; he diagnosed instantly what he wanted. He hated having to turn people away.
As Morris unfolded his tale, however, the frown melted away and was replaced by a childlike look of innocence that usually rested on his features. He heard him to the end with a penetrating question now andthen, and volunteered no comment. Morris finished his tale, and stood while Rawdon stroked his chin.
‘As I understand it, then, Mr Morris,’ he said, ‘you want to come and work for us unpaid for a certain time in the hopes that we can take you on when you’ve got a little experience or, failing that, that we can pass you on to someone who wants staff?’
Morris assented.
Rawdon picked up a splinter of wood and fingered it. ‘I’m afraid I can tell you straight off,’ he said, ‘that we shall not be taking on any more staff just yet – so far as I can judge. One doesn’t see very far ahead in this business. But unless anything very startling happens, we shan’t be engaging any more technical staff for many months.’
‘I expected that,’ said Morris. ‘At the same time, I want to get experience in these matters. Can you see your way to allow me to come and work unpaid? Of course, I quite see that the presence of a learner rather interferes with the work of the office.’
‘Oh, as to that,’ said the designer, ‘you can come and welcome – it’s all clear gain to us. And when you go, I’ll give you what help I can – with consideration to what you’re worth. But I must tell you clearly that I don’t think there’s a chance of a job for you in this firm. I’m sorry, but you know the state of the industry.’
Morris laughed. ‘I think I know a good bit about that,’ he said.
‘One thing, Mr Morris. Are you prepared to take any piloting work?’
Morris considered in his turn. ‘Piloting is my only asset,’ he said. He glanced at the other. ‘I should want flying pay for that.’
‘Quite so. We might be able to give you odd, isolated jobs in that way – delivery of these Rabbits chiefly. You would be willing to take that on?’
‘Most certainly.’
‘Well,’ said the designer, ‘we should be very glad to have you on those conditions, Mr Morris – only, as I say, I’m afraid there’s very little hope of a paid job in the office. Things are too bad to take on any more staff at present. When would you think of coming?’
‘In about three weeks? I really can’t say till I’ve spoken to Mr Riley; I’m still engaged to him.’
‘That would do very well. If you’ll give us a couple of days’ notice, will you? … Good morning, Mr Morris; I’m very glad we’ve been able to come to some arrangement.’
He walked back to his partner, still sitting
His guide, however, had no such scruples as to the sanctity of a directors’ meeting. Apple in hand she marched up to Rawdon.
‘A gentleman to see you, sir.’ Her part played, she gave her attention to a more important matter. The foreman of the engine shop, passing by, stopped and regarded her.
‘Hey, Gladys, don’t you know any better than that up in the office?’ he inquired pleasantly. ‘Standin’ eating an apple in the middle of the shop! Settin’ a bad example to the men. Ought to be ashamed of yourself – I would. I wouldn’t have it if this was my shop.’
One of the carpenters laid down his work. ‘Don’t you pay no attention to him,’ he said. ‘He’d have apple and all if this was his shop.’
The little girl grinned shyly and strolled away. Rawdon levered himself slowly off the bright wooden fuselage and went to meet Morris, frowning a little. He had no place for this chap; he diagnosed instantly what he wanted. He hated having to turn people away.
As Morris unfolded his tale, however, the frown melted away and was replaced by a childlike look of innocence that usually rested on his features. He heard him to the end with a penetrating question now andthen, and volunteered no comment. Morris finished his tale, and stood while Rawdon stroked his chin.
‘As I understand it, then, Mr Morris,’ he said, ‘you want to come and work for us unpaid for a certain time in the hopes that we can take you on when you’ve got a little experience or, failing that, that we can pass you on to someone who wants staff?’
Morris assented.
Rawdon picked up a splinter of wood and fingered it. ‘I’m afraid I can tell you straight off,’ he said, ‘that we shall not be taking on any more staff just yet – so far as I can judge. One doesn’t see very far ahead in this business. But unless anything very startling happens, we shan’t be engaging any more technical staff for many months.’
‘I expected that,’ said Morris. ‘At the same time, I want to get experience in these matters. Can you see your way to allow me to come and work unpaid? Of course, I quite see that the presence of a learner rather interferes with the work of the office.’
‘Oh, as to that,’ said the designer, ‘you can come and welcome – it’s all clear gain to us. And when you go, I’ll give you what help I can – with consideration to what you’re worth. But I must tell you clearly that I don’t think there’s a chance of a job for you in this firm. I’m sorry, but you know the state of the industry.’
Morris laughed. ‘I think I know a good bit about that,’ he said.
‘One thing, Mr Morris. Are you prepared to take any piloting work?’
Morris considered in his turn. ‘Piloting is my only asset,’ he said. He glanced at the other. ‘I should want flying pay for that.’
‘Quite so. We might be able to give you odd, isolated jobs in that way – delivery of these Rabbits chiefly. You would be willing to take that on?’
‘Most certainly.’
‘Well,’ said the designer, ‘we should be very glad to have you on those conditions, Mr Morris – only, as I say, I’m afraid there’s very little hope of a paid job in the office. Things are too bad to take on any more staff at present. When would you think of coming?’
‘In about three weeks? I really can’t say till I’ve spoken to Mr Riley; I’m still engaged to him.’
‘That would do very well. If you’ll give us a couple of days’ notice, will you? … Good morning, Mr Morris; I’m very glad we’ve been able to come to some arrangement.’
He walked back to his partner, still sitting
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