r. Cheetham purchased both the carving and the tools to exhibit in
Hillsborough; and the purchase-money, less a heavy commission, was paid
to Henry. He showed Mrs. Little thirty pounds, and helped her pack up;
and next day they reached Hillsborough by train.

Henry took a close cab, and carried his mother off to the suburbs in
search of a lodging. She wore a thick veil, and laid her head on her
son's shoulder, and held his brown though elegant hand with her white
fingers, that quivered a little as she passed through the well-known
streets.

As for Henry, he felt quite triumphant and grand, and consoled her in an
off-hand, hearty way. "Come, cheer up, and face the music. They have all
forgotten you by this time, and, when they do see you again, you shall
be as good as the best of them. I don't drink, and I've got a trade all
to myself here, and I'd rather make my fortune in this town than any
other; and, mother, you have been a good friend to me; I won't ever
marry till I have done you justice, and made you the queen of this very
town."

And so he rattled on, in such high spirits, that the great soft thing
began to smile with motherly love and pride through her tears, ere they
found a lodging.

Next day to the works, and there the foreman showed him a small forge on
the ground floor, and a vacant room above to make his handles in and put
the tools together; the blades were to be ground, whetted, and finished
by cheaper hands.

A quick-eared grinder soon came up to them, and said roughly, "Ain't we
to wet new forge?"

"They want their drink out of you," said the foreman; and whispered, in
great anxiety, "Don't say no, or you might as well work in a wasp's nest
as here."

"All right," said Henry, cheerfully. "I'm no drinker myself, but I'll
stand what is customary."

"That is right," said Foreman Bayne. "'Twill cost you fifteen shillings.
But Peace is cheap at as many guineas."

The word was given, and every man who worked on the same floor with
Henry turned out to drink at his expense, and left off work for a good
hour. With some exceptions they were a rough lot, and showed little
friendliness or good-humor over it. One even threw out a hint that no
cockney forges were wanted in Hillsborough. But another took him up, and
said, "Maybe not; but you are not much of a man to drink his liquor and
grudge him his bread."

After this waste of time and money, Henry went back to the works, and a
workman told him rathe