aid the man.

He had scarcely uttered these words when their attention was attracted by
a knocking at the entrance-gate; and upon Ben going to the window to look
out, he saw the picket on duty making signs to him to come to the gate
and speak. The man looked so disturbed, and almost ashamed, that Ben knew
there was nothing to fear from him except bad news, and that he felt
pretty sure he should soon hear.

'Now, what villainy have you been up to?' he asked, as he opened the gate
half-way.

'It's no use making bad blood by hard words, Ben. I told you before I've
had nought to do with the happenings at Balmoral. We're only fighting for
our rights and our livelihood, that you're trying to take away from us;
but there, I didn't come to say all that, but to see the young master, if
he 'll let me have a word with him,' said the man.

'I shouldn't think he'd have anything to say to you, and I shouldn't have
thought you'd the face to speak to him when you're trying to ruin him;
and as for me taking your livelihood away, you've done it yourselves.
Dogs in the manger, I call you; won't work yourselves, and won't let any
one else.'

'Have done, Ben, and let me see Mr George. I've got a message that won't
wait,' said the other.

The gate-keeper went to find George, who was again at the telephone in a
vain effort to communicate with his sister, with whom he felt very
irritated for leaving him without news for so long.

'Wants to see me? One of the pickets, you say? Does he want to come to
terms, do you think?' inquired George.

'I doubt it, sir; but you'd better see him. He says his message won't
wait.'

Thus entreated, George left the telephone and went to the gate.

'Excuse me, Mr George,' said the man, standing bareheaded to speak to
him, which even George knew was a token of great respect--was it also
sympathy?--coming from a mill-hand of his father's. 'Excuse me, but we
think you're wanted at Howroyd's. There's been an accident'----

'An accident? To whom?' interrupted George.

'To the--to Mr Clay, sir,' said the man.

George was just hurrying off, but stopped for a moment. Suppose this were
a ruse to get him out of the mills. He half-thought of trying to get a
message to Sarah before leaving the mills.

But the man, seeming to guess his thoughts, said, 'We sha'n't interfere
with the mills, sir, if you'll take my word for it.'

'You can scarcely expect me to feel very secure, can you?' said George
quietly.