my
two men shall do the work as quietly and as easily as two printers, one
feeding a machine with paper, and his mate drawing out the printed sheet
at the other end."

"By Jove," said Dr. Amboyne, "I believe this is a great idea. What do
you say, Mr. Bayne?"

"Well, sir, a servant mustn't always say his mind."

"Servant be hanged!" said Little. "THAT for a friend who does not speak
his mind."

"Well, then, gentlemen, it is the most simple and beautiful contrivance
I ever saw. And there's only one thing to be done with it."

"Patent it?"

"No; hide it; lock it up in your own breast, and try and forget it. Your
life won't be worth a week's purchase, if you set up that machine in
Hillsborough."

"Hillsborough is not all the world. I can take it to some free
country--America or--Russia; there's a fortune in it. Stop; suppose
I was to patent it at home and abroad, and then work it in the United
States and the Canadas. That would force the invention upon this
country, by degrees."

"Yes, and then, if you sell the English patent and insure the
purchaser's life, you may turn a few thousands, and keep a whole skin
yourself."

Little assured Bayne he had no intention of running his head against the
Saw-grinders' Union. "We are very comfortable as it is, and I value my
life more than I used to do."

"I think I know why," said Dr. Amboyne. "But, whatever you do, patent
your invention. Patent them all."

Henry promised he would; but soon forgot his promise, and, having tasted
blood, so to speak, was soon deep in a far more intricate puzzle, viz.,
how to grind large circular saws by machinery. This problem, and
his steel railway clip, which was to displace the present system of
fastening down the rails, absorbed him so, that he became abstracted in
the very streets, and did not see his friends when they passed.

One day, when he was deeply engaged in his studio, Bayne tapped at the
door, and asked to speak to him.

"Well, what is it?" said the inventor, rather peevishly.

"Oh, nothing," said Bayne, with a bitter air of mock resignation. "Only
a cloud on the peaceful horizon; that is all. A letter from Mary Anne."

"SIR,--Four of your saws are behindhand with their contributions, and,
being deaf to remonstrance, I am obliged to apply to you, to use your
influence.

"MARY ANNE."

"Well," said Henry, "Mary Anne is in the right. Confound their
dishonesty: they take the immense advantages the Saw-grinders' Uni