The girl knew business and knew Society. The latter she had no use for.

The next day they met again, and quite accidentally found themselves
engaged, neither of 'em knew how.

It was very embarrassing! How could they break the news to Papa Dale?

They devised a way. It was this: Robert Owen was to go and offer to buy
Mr. Dale's mills.

Owen went over to Lanark and called on Mr. Dale, and told him he wanted
to buy his business. Mr. Dale looked at the boy, and smiled. Owen was
twenty-seven, but appeared twenty, being beardless, slight and
fair-haired.

The youth said he could get all the money that was needed. They sparred
for a time--neither side naming figures. It being about noontime, Mr.
Dale asked young Mr. Owen to go over to his house to lunch. Mr. Dale
was a widower, but his daughter kept the house. Mr. Dale introduced Mr.
Owen to Miss Dale.

The young folks played their parts with a coolness that would have
delighted John Drew, and would have been suspicious to anybody but a
fussy old mill-owner.

Finally as the crumbs were being brushed from the rich man's table, Mr.
Dale fixed on the sum of sixty thousand pounds for his property.

Owen was satisfied and named as terms three thousand pounds and interest
each year for twenty years, touching the young lady's toe with his own
under the table.

Mr. Dale agreed. Mr. Owen had the money to make the first payment. The
papers were drawn up. The deal was closed--all but the difficult part.
This was done by rushing the enemy in his library, after a good meal.
"It keeps the business in the family, you see," said the girl on her
knees, pouting prettily.

The point was gained, and when Robert Owen, a few weeks later, came to
New Lanark to take possession of the property, he did as much for the
girl. So they were married and lived happily ever afterward.

* * * * *

Robert Owen took up his work at New Lanark with all the enthusiasm that
hope, youth and love could bring to bear.

Mr. Dale had carried the flag as far to the front as he thought it could
be safely carried--that is to say, as far as he was able to carry it.

Owen had his work cut out for him. The workers were mostly Lowland
Scotch and spoke in an almost different language from Owen. They looked
upon him with suspicion. The place had been sold, and they had gone with
it--how were they to be treated? Were wages to be lowered and hours
extended? Probably.

Pilfering