The wages on the mantelpiece

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

The factory wages lay on the mantelpiece beneath the rent notice. Mr Keene had received the usual sum, though his fellow workers had refused to enter the mill that morning. They wanted the damaged stair repaired before another shift. He told his wife that a man with children could not afford to make a principle of every broken board.

At supper, his son asked why the neighbours had gathered outside the gate. Mr Keene said there was a disagreement. His wife asked whether the stair was dangerous. He described how the upper tread moved, then stopped when he realised that the description sounded worse aloud. His son looked towards the rent notice and asked whether the money would be enough if somebody fell.

Mr Keene said accidents could happen anywhere. His wife did not argue. She counted the wages and set aside the rent, food money and the small amount they owed the doctor from winter. There was almost nothing left. The doctor’s bill remained on the table while the boy cleared the plates.

The next morning, Mr Keene went to the gate but did not enter. He asked the workers how long they intended to wait and whether families could share provisions. Their answer did not remove his worry. At home, the rent money stayed beneath the notice. Beside it, he placed a list of households that would need help first.

“The passage presents Mr Keene’s decision as a genuine conflict between responsibilities.”

Evaluate how successfully the writer presents this idea. Support your judgement with detailed references to the passage.