e all working half-time, and thanking the Capitalists
for keeping the mills going, and only starving them by inches?" said
Devilsdust in a tone of scorn.

"That's your time of day," said Mick.

"Very glad to see you, gentlemen," said Mr Trotman, "pray be seated.
There's a little baccy left yet in Mowbray, and a glass of twist at your
service."

"Nothing exciseable for me," said Devilsdust.

"Well it ayn't exactly the right ticket, Mrs Trotman, I believe," said
Mick, bowing gallantly to the lady; "but 'pon my soul I am so thirsty,
that I'll take Chaffing Jack at his word;" and so saying Mick and
Devilsdust ensconced themselves in the bar, while good-hearted Mrs
Carey, sipped her glass of gin and water, which she frequently protested
was a pool of Bethesda.

"Well Jack," said Devilsdust, "I suppose you have heard the news?"

"If it be anything that has happened at Mowbray, especially in this
quarter, I should think I had. Times must be very bad indeed that some
one does not drop in to tell me anything that has happened and to ask my
advice."

"It's nothing to do with Mowbray."

"Thank you kindly, Mrs Trotman," said Mick, "and here's your very good
health."

"Then I am in the dark," said Chaffing Jack, replying to the previous
observation of Devilsdust, "for I never see a newspaper now except a
week old, and that lent by a friend, I who used to take my Sun regular,
to say nothing of the Dispatch, and Bell's Life. Times is changed, Mr
Radley."

"You speak like a book, Mr Trotman," said Mick, "and here's your very
good health. But as for newspapers, I'm all in the dark myself, for the
Literary and Scientific is shut up, and no subscribers left, except the
honorary ones, and not a journal to be had except the Moral World and
that's gratis."

"As bad as the Temple," said Chaffing Jack, "it's all up with the
institutions of the country. And what then is the news?"

"Labour is triumphant in Lancashire," said Devilsdust with bitter
solemnity.

"The deuce it is," said Chaffing Jack. "What, have they raised wages?"

"No," said Devilsdust, "but they have stopped the mills."

"That won't mend matters much," said Jack with a puff.

"Won't it?"

"The working classes will have less to spend than ever."

"And what will the Capitalists have to spend?" said Devilsdust. "Worse
and worse," said Mr Trotman, "you will never get institutions like the
Temple re-opened on this system."

"Don't you be afraid Jack," said M