ick, tossing off his tumbler; "if we
only get our rights, won't we have a blowout!"

"We must have a struggle," said Devilsdust, "and teach the Capitalists
on whom they depend, so that in future they are not to have the lion's
share, and then all will be right."

"A fair day's wage for a fair day's work," said Mick; "that's your time
of day."

"It began at Staleybridge," said Devilsdust, "and they have stopped them
all; and now they have marched into Manchester ten thousand strong. They
pelted the police--"

"And cheered the red-coats like blazes," said Mick.

"The soldiers will fraternise," said Devilsdust.

"Do what?" said Mrs Trotman.

"Stick their bayonets into the Capitalists who have hired them to cut
the throats of the working classes," said Devilsdust.

"The Queen is with us," said Mick. "It's well known she sets her face
against gals working in mills like blazes."

"Well this is news," said Mrs Carey. "I always thought some good would
come of having a woman on the throne;" and repeating her thanks
and pinning on her shawl, the widow retired, eager to circulate the
intelligence.

"And now that we are alone," said Devilsdust, "the question is what are
we to do here; and we came to consult you, Jack, as you know Mowbray
better than any living man. This thing will spread. It won't stop short.
I have had a bird too singing something in my ear these two days past.
If they do not stop it in Lancashire, and I defy them, there will be a
general rising."

"I have seen a many things in my time," said Mr Trotman; "some risings
and some strikes, and as stiff turn-outs as may be. But to my fancy
there is nothing like a strike in prosperous times; there's more
money sent under those circumstances than you can well suppose, young
gentlemen. It's as good as Mowbray Staty any day."

"But now to the point," said Devilsdust. "The people are regularly sold;
they want a leader."

"Why there's Gerard," said Chaffing Jack; "never been a better man in my
time. And Warner--the greatest man the Handlooms ever turned out."

"Ay, ay," said Devilsdust; "but they have each of them had a year and a
half, and that cools blood."

"Besides," said Mick, "they are too old; and Stephen Morley has got
round them, preaching moral force and all that sort of gammon."

"I never heard that moral force won the battle of Waterloo," said
Devilsdust. "I wish the Capitalists would try moral force a little, and
see whether it would keep th