the mill-hands were out, so she was still less likely to let her go
to-day when the town was in a state of excitement never known before,
and, to crown all, their mills in a state of siege and their family so
unpopular.

But Sarah was mistaken. Her mother said gratefully, 'If you would just
run to the mills, dear, I should be very glad. Even if they won't let you
through, they'll tell you, or some one will tell you, if your father 'as
come out.'

Sarah was just starting for her room to fetch her hat, when she
remembered that she had no hat. She had come down with a shawl over her
head like the mill-lasses, for whom she hoped to be mistaken; and Naomi
had not thought of bringing one with the other necessaries which she had
made into a bundle.

'And I don't suppose you've got a hat to your name now, Miss Sarah,' the
maid observed gloomily when consulted on the subject.

Sarah gave her hair a brush, and remarked lightly, 'Well I must go
bareheaded. Perhaps it will please those people to see the state of
poverty they have reduced me to.' And off she started, regardless of
Naomi's protests and offers to go and get a hat somewhere.

'Eh, but she's a proud lass, is yon!' said more than one whom she
passed, her head high and her eyes looking straight ahead of her, not
seeing or noticing the groups through which she passed.

'Ay, she counts us the dust under her feet,' said another, and the group
agreed; while one of the number observed, 'Perhaps she'll think
differently when she sees her property laid in the dust;' and a younger
man laughed, though the others said, 'Nay, 'tis nought to laugh at. Clays
are no friends of mine; but I was always agin that. 'Tis a wicked deed
they've done up at Balmoral, and tricks with air-ships isn't a Yorkshire
way of fighting, though 'tis a dirty trick he've played us with his
foreigners.'

But Sarah had not the satisfaction of hearing any of the remarks
disapproving of the fire, and her heart swelled as she thought that all
Ousebank was glad of their loss; for no one--not even an acquaintance,
herself the wife of a mill-owner--stopped her to condole with her. Sarah
had no idea that it was her own repellent bearing that prevented them,
nor that this same lady went home and said to her family, with tears in
her eyes, 'It made my heart ache to see her walking alone through all
those crowds, with her head bare and face so grave. I'd have been glad to
take her hands and say how sorry I was;