over the mill-owner, and said, 'I'm spokesman, if you please,
mates.--And this is what we've come to say. There's two men been turned
off because they've been ill, and boys put on in their place.'

'They did no more work than the boys,' observed Mark Clay, 'and took
double the wages.'

'They didn't do quite as much work, 'tis true; but they did it better,
and we always made up by the end of the day between us what they couldn't
manage when 'twas heavy work; but the men say they ain't going to do it
for the boys.'

'No, of course not,' said Horatia impulsively.

'Oh, of course not, you say?--Well, go on,' said Mr Clay.

'And these men have got wives and families to support, and who'll take
them on if they're turned out of Clay's Mills for not being able to do
their work?'

[Illustration: 'We've come to say there's two men been turned off because
they've been ill, and boys put on in their place.' PAGE 132.]

'I've nought to do with that. Business is business, and you can't mix
sentiment up with it,' said the master.

'But, then, some one will have to support them,' said Horatia.

'The rates will,' said Mr Clay.

'Well, you pay the rates, so you may just as well keep them at the mills;
the work gets done, and it makes no difference to you whether their
friends help them to do it or not, and, you see, it won't get done with
those boys, because the men won't help them. So, I say, take the two men
back.--And, oh! I do think it kind of you men to do their work, and come
and speak up for them,' wound up Horatia.

Mr Clay gave her a glance. The plain little face was lit up by animation,
and he smiled. Then he turned to the men. 'Very good, lads; you hear what
the young lady says. I promised her her way, and she shall have it.' Here
his face grew stern. 'But it's to her I've given way, not to my men,
remember that. What Mark Clay does is done, and won't be undone; and
there's no parleying between master and man in Clay's Mills; so the next
time the men want to come up to see me, tell them it's no good; Mark Clay
receives no deputations from his men. If they don't like his ways they
can leave him; it's as they like.'

'We're not likely to do that without we're forced. We've worked for you,
man and boy, these thirty years, some of us, Mr Clay,' said Luke
Mickleroyd.

'I sha'n't force you. I know good workers when I've got 'em, and give 'em
good wages, too,' said Mr Clay. And this was quite true, and no better
work