rotait bustled in, wiping his face with a towel as
he came, and welcomed his visitors cordially. "Fine weather, gentlemen."

Bayne cut that short. "Mr. Grotait, we have lost our bands."

"You surprise me."

"And perhaps you can tell us how to get them back."

"Experience teaches that they always come back when the men pay their
arrears."

"Well, it is agreed to stop the sum due, out of wages."

"A very proper course."

"What is it we have got to pay?"

"How can I tell you without book? Pray, Mr. Little, don't imagine that
I set these matters agate. All I do is to mediate afterward. I'll go and
look at the contribution-book."

He went out, and soon returned, and told them it was one sovereign
contribution from each man, and five shillings each for Mary Anne.

"What, for her services in rattening us?" said Little, dryly.

"And her risk," suggested Grotait, in dulcet tones.

Little paid the five pounds, and then asked Grotait for the bands.

"Good heavens, Mr. Little, do you think I have got your bands?"

"You must excuse Mr. Little, sir," said Bayne. "He is a stranger, and
doesn't know the comedy. Perhaps you will oblige us with a note where we
can find them."

"Hum!" said Grotait, with the air of one suddenly illuminated. "What did
I hear somebody say about these bands? Hum! Give me an hour or two to
make inquiries."

"Don't say an hour or two, sir, when the men have got to make up lost
time. We will give you a little grace; we will take a walk down street,
and perhaps it will come to your recollection."

"Hum!" said Grotait; and as that was clearly all they were to get out of
him just then they left and took a turn.

In half an hour they came back again, and sat down in the parlor.

Grotait soon joined them. "I've been thinking," said he, "what a pity it
is we can't come to some friendly arrangement with intelligent masters,
like Mr. Little, to deduct the natty money every week from the men's
wages."

"Excuse me," said Bayne, "we are not here for discussion. We want our
bands."

"Do you doubt that you will get them, sir? Did ever I break faith with
master or man?"

"No, no," said the pacific Bayne, alarmed at the sudden sternness of
his tone. "You are as square as a die--when you get it all your own way.
Why, Mr. Little, Cheetham's bands were taken one day, and, when he had
made the men pay their arrears, he was directed where to find the bands;
but, meantime, somebody out of trade had found