to be the Democritus, or laughing
philosopher of Hillsborough, and became a low uneducated brute of a
workman. Then I asked this brute, viz, myself, why I was staring and
glaring in that way, stupidly astonished, at the injured man? 'Were you
concerned in the criminal act, ye blackguard?' said I to myself. The
next step was to put myself in the place of the criminal. I did so; and
I realized that I, the criminal, had done the act to please the Unions,
and expecting the sympathy of all Union workmen to be with me. Also that
I, being an ignorant brute, had never pictured to myself what suffering
I should inflict. But what was the result? I now saw the sufferer, and
did not like my own act; and I found all the sympathy of my fellows went
with him, and that I was loathed and execrated, and should be lynched
on the spot were I to own my act. I now whipped back to Dr. Amboyne with
the theory thus obtained, and compared it with that face; the two fitted
each other, and I saw the criminal before me."

"Good heavens! This is very deep."

"No slop-basin was ever deeper. So leave it for the present, and go
to work. Here are cards admitting you, as my commissioner, to all the
principal works. Begin with--Stop a moment, while I put myself in your
place. Let me see, 'Cheetham's grinders think they have turned me out of
Hillsborough. That mortifies a young man of merit like me. Confound
'em! I should like to show them they have not the power to drive me out.
Combine how they will, I rise superior. I forge as they could not forge:
that was my real crime. Well, I'll be their superior still. I'm their
inspector, and their benefactor, at higher wages than they, poor devils,
will ever earn at inspecting and benefiting, or any thing else.' Ah!
your color rises. I've hit the right nail, isn't it an excellent and
most transmigratory art? Then begin with Cheetham. By-the-bye, the
Anomaly has spotted a defective grindstone there. Scrutinize all his
departments severely; for no man values his people's lives less than my
good friend John Cheetham. Away with you both; and God speed you."

Henry walked down the street with the Anomaly, and tried to gauge his
intellects.

"What's your real name, my man?"

"Silly Billy."

"Oh, then I'm afraid you can't do much to help me."

"Oh yes, I can, because--"

"Because what?"

"Because I like you."

"Well, that's lucky, any way."

"Billy can catch trout when nobody else can," said the youngster