cognised it as
the bell of their uncle's mill calling the people to work.

George decided to go down to the mills, and a very short time saw him
dressed and at the gates.

''Tis young Clay,' he heard as he passed down the street, through groups
of idle men, women, and girls, whom he guessed to be their former
employes. They had nothing to get up for; but habit was too strong for
them, and they had risen and turned out at the same hour.

'What'll he be going to do at t' old mills?' some of them inquired of
each other.

'I be main sorry for him. He's a right good young gentleman, they say,'
said one woman.

'I wish he'd run the mills. I'd work for him,' said another.

'If he'd have you; but I doubt he'd not have one of his father's hands
after what's happened,' was the retort.

'He's but a youngster; he can't run the mills. They'll have to shut down
till the old master comes to, or this one gets old enough,' said a shrewd
old hand.

'Yes, 'twould never do for he to start blanket-making without experience;
he'd soon run aground. I'd not work for him,' remarked another old man.

Evidently no one had any idea that George intended to try his hand at the
business, in spite of inexperience and youth; and, indeed, as he went
down the street he found himself wondering how he was to set about it,
and whether he had not better brave Sarah's scorn and give it up. But he
reasoned with himself, 'I will go on till my private capital is
exhausted, and if I have failed by then I'll own it and give up.' With
new resolve, he walked briskly on and entered the silent mills.

The clang of the gate as it shut after him struck painfully on his ears,
and he went to the office and sat down to think. 'If only I knew what to
do! Perhaps this room will inspire me,' he murmured. But the room did not
seem to do so; on the contrary, he was oppressed with the sense of the
failure in which all the business done in that room had ended.

Suddenly the door opened, and Sarah, dainty and fresh in the muslin Naomi
had thoughtfully brought her, almost her only possession in the way of
clothes, came in. 'George, I have an inspiration,' she said.

Her brother looked up with a smile. 'That's funny,' he replied, 'for
that's just what I was sitting here waiting for.'

'That's a nice, useless thing to do!' said Sarah.

'On the contrary, it appears to have been answered,' he said.

'Oh, well, it wasn't your sitting there that made me come and have tha