ities. Clothes were so dear that many a
labourer went to church in his smock frock all his life. Many never
donned broadcloth from their cradle to their grave. And tea five
shillings a pound, Levi Baggs! They used to buy it by the ounce and brew
it over and over again. Think of the little children, too, and how they
were made to work. Think of them and feel your heart ache."

"My heart aches for myself," answered the hackler, "because I very well
remember what my own childhood was. And I'm not saying the times don't
better. I'm saying we must keep at 'em, or they'll soon slip back again
into the old, bad ways. Capital's always pulling against labour and
would get back its evil mastery to-morrow if it could. So we need to
keep awake, to see we don't lose what we've won, but add to it. Now
here's a man that's a servant by instinct, and it's in his blood to
knuckle under."

He pointed to Best.

"I'm for no man more than another," answered John. "I stand not for man
or woman in particular. I'm for the Mill first and last and always. I
think of what is best for the Mill and put it above the welfare of the
individual, whatever he represents--capital or labour."

"That's where you're wrong. The people are the Mill and only the
people," declared Baggs. "The rest is iron and steel and flax and hemp
and steam--dead things all. We are the Mill, not the stuff in it, or the
man that happens to be the new master."

"Mr. Raymond has expressed admirable sentiments in my hearing,"
declared Ernest Churchouse. "For so young a man, he has a considerable
grasp of the situation and progressive ideas. You might be in worse
hands."

"Might we? How worse? What can be worse than a man that lies to women
and seduces an innocent girl under promise of marriage? What can be
worse than a coward and traitor, who does a thing like that, and when he
finds he's strong enough to escape the consequences, escapes them?"

"Heaven knows I'm not condoning his conduct, Levi. He has behaved as
badly as a young man could, and not a word of extenuation will you hear
from me. I'm not speaking of him as a part of the social order; I'm
speaking of him as master of the Mill. As master here he may be a
successful man and you'll do well to bear in mind that he must be judged
by results. Morally, he's a failure, and you are right to condemn him;
but don't let that make you an enemy to him as owner of the works. Be
just, and don't be prejudiced against him in one