‘Jobie! Jobie!’
Jobie’s face was clean, unlike the little girl’s — or, indeed, any they had seen since arriving at the Common. And shaven, too. He had bright blue eyes and hair the colour of horse chestnuts, and a ready smile for his half- sister. He gave her the sack and she ran inside with it. ‘Only bread,’ he explained to the visitors. ‘I go for it evr’y mornin’.’ He showed no apprehensiveness on account of seeing strangers in uniform.
‘I am Serjeant Collins of His Majesty’s Sixth Light Dragoons, and am authorized to enlist young men of the best character.’
Collins had not wanted to introduce confusion in the lad’s mind by speaking of his officer, but Jobie Wainwright glanced at Hervey and then back at the serjeant. Even to an uninformed eye the difference in quality of uniform was apparent.
Hervey smiled. ‘I am Captain Hervey of the same corps.’
‘I reckoned as much, sir. I saw the posters in the town. And it’s your sister as comes here.’
‘Steady on, young ’un,’ said Collins, checking his instinct to bark that he would speak to an officer only when given permission.
But Hervey saw an opportunity. ‘It was my sister who told me you might care for a soldier’s life.’
Jobie did not hesitate. ‘That I would, sir, if only for a regular wage.’
Serjeant Collins now sensed further opportunity. ‘Are there others who think the same, Jobie?’
‘Two or three, Serjeant.’
‘Well, if you bring them and they enlist, you are entitled to a bringer’s bounty. Will you do that?’
‘Ay, Serjeant, I’ll bring them. But I wouldn’t want the money for it. They must have that for themselves.’
‘You shall have the money, Jobie, and you may give it away as you please. For that is the procedure. Come to the chapel within the hour. We cannot be here all day.’
‘Ay, Serjeant, I shall do that.’
Hervey and Collins walked back to the chapel pleased with their easy success, and after so unpromising a beginning. ‘As decent a lad as ever I saw,’ declared Hervey. ‘Clean, well-made, he reads, and he has an honest stamp. Or at least, he would not try to profit from his friends.’
‘Ay, sir. A very satisfactory sort.’
‘You sound unsure.’
‘Oh no, sir. I’m sure right enough. That little lass’s face told you he was a good’n. I was just thinking how contrary it all is. Here’s the filthiest place you’ll see outside a London rookery, and out of it comes a lad like that. Gives a lie to poverty being the breeding bed of sin, don’t it, sir?’
‘Don’t let’s begin on that, Sar’nt Collins. I had ample of it last night at home. You would not imagine so many opinions there might be in one family.’
‘Well, sir, there’ll be plenty more in the days to come, no doubt, after that business in Manchester.’
‘Oh yes, indeed,’ sighed Hervey. ‘You may be sure of it.’
Three-quarters of an hour later, Jobie Wainwright and three others of his age came to the chapel and asked if they might know the bounty and pay if they enlisted.
‘Five pounds and four shillings,’ replied Serjeant Collins. ‘And pay is one and twopence a day. For the infantry a shilling only. And there is one penny a day beer-money too.’
The potential recruits looked encouraged. Hervey, sitting in a corner, lowered his copy of
‘And all our keep is found, Serjeant?’ asked Jobie Wainwright on their behalf.
Here was the rub, thought Hervey. And here was when an unscrupulous bringer would dissemble or even lie. Better that he himself speak to it than leave Collins to have to apologize for the subsistence and off-reckonings which would take away so much of their pay. ‘Three-quarters of a pound of beef and one pound of bread every day. That or its equivalent,’ he said, reassuringly.
The four looked even more encouraged.
‘And for this you pay no more than sixpence a day.’
They looked disappointed.
‘And you must, of course, buy that part of your uniform and necessaries which would be a man’s everyday working dress whatever. Serjeant Collins has a list of these. He will show it to you.’
Only Jobie Wainwright made to look at it. To the others it would have been no more helpful than a page of Greek.
Flannel drawers 5 11?
Flannel waistcoat 7 5?
Shirts 7 5
Worsted stockings 2 6
Stable trousers 7 9
Forage cap 2 6
Stock and clasp 2 0
Shoes 8 0
Boots 18 0
Gloves 1 8
Hair comb 6
Razor 1 3
Shaving box and brush 1 3
Shoe brush 11
Cloth brush 1 2
Curry comb and brush 4 0
Mane comb and sponge 8?
Water sponge, per oz. 2 2?
Horse picker 1?
Turnscrew and worm 1 0
Corn bag 1 6
Oil tin 1 0
Scissors 1 6
Black ball 10
Valise 12 6
Saddle blanket 18 11?
Braces 2 6
Night cap 1 8
516 9
‘Sir, it comes to more than the bounty,’ said Jobie anxiously.
‘The usual way is that a recruit is given twenty-one shillings at once, and the remainder is kept back for these necessaries. The difference is advanced to the man, and from his basic pay instalments are made until the advance is paid back.’ Hervey did not say that it was the troop captain who lent the man the cash, and on very disadvantageous terms to himself.
Jobie looked a little relieved.
Serjeant Collins judged the catch was ready to land. ‘You will receive a free issue of overalls, a stable jacket and a dress coat annually, and an allowance of six shillings for boots and three for gloves.’
They seemed encouraged again.
‘There are other clearings,’ said Hervey, ‘but you shall receive not less than three shillings each week. And in India you may live much higher than ever at home.’
‘India, sir?’ said Jobie, his voice suggesting neither favour nor otherwise.
‘Yes. The regiment is for India soon. I have been there. It is the place for adventure.’
