cunning; not inclined to commit himself. He
consequently replied by an "Ah," and knocked with great energy at the
brickwork from which he was detaching the range.

"Anything been the matter then, Jim?"

"No, marm; nothing's the matter."

"You have not quarrelled with Mr. Furze, I hope? You do not seem quite
happy."

"Me quarrel with Mr. Furze, marm!--no, I never quarrel with _him_. He's
a gentleman, he is."

Mrs. Furze was impatient. She wanted to come to the point, and could not
wait to manoeuvre.

"I am afraid you and Tom do not get on together."

"Well, Mrs. Furze, if we don't it ain't my fault."

"No, I dare say not; in fact, I am sure it is not. I dare say Tom is a
little overbearing. Considering his origin, and the position he now
occupies, it is natural he should be."

"He ain't one as ought to give himself airs, marm. Why--"

Jim all at once dropped his chisel and his mask of indifference and
flashed into ferocity.

"Why, my father was a tradesman, he was, and I was in your husband's
foundry earning a pound a week when Master Tom was in rags. Who taught
him I should like to know?"

"Jim, you must not talk like that; although, to tell you the truth, Tom
is no favourite of mine. Mr. Furze, however, relies on him."

"Relies on him, does he? Leastways, I know he does; just as if scores of
others couldn't do jist as well, only they 'aven't 'ad his chance! Relies
on him, as yer call it! But there, if I wur to speak, wot 'ud be the
use?"

It is always a consolation to incapable people that their lack of success
is due to the absence of chances. From the time of Korah, Dathan, and
Abiram--who accused Moses and Aaron of taking too much upon themselves,
because every man in the congregation was as holy as his God-selected
leaders--it has been a theory, one may even say a religion, with those
who have been passed over, that their sole reason for their super-session
is an election as arbitrary as that by the Antinomian deity, who, out of
pure wilfulness, gives opportunities to some and denies them to others.

"What do you mean, Jim? What is it that you see?"

"You'll excuse me, missus, if I says no more. I ain't a-goin' to meddle
with wot don't concern me, and get myself into trouble for nothing: wot
for, I should like to know? Wot good would it do me?"

"But, Jim, if you are aware of anything wrong it is your duty to report
it."

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't; but wot thanks should I g