finds we have sent good customers
away.'

'There's a good business woman for you!' cried Mr Blakeley with a laugh.
''Tis a pity you are not a man; you could go into partnership with your
brother and father.'

Meanwhile George had acted on Sarah's advice, and sent for Mr Hurst, who
came at once. 'There's no call for you to withdraw your order, Mr
Blakeley. We've got the wools you asked for, and there's one of the
weavers who has done your cloth before, so I think you may be easy in
your mind about its being done as well as ever. We're turning out some
fine work, and there's a new shade you might find useful, which perhaps
you'd like to see.'

Mr Blakeley pricked up his ears at the news of a new shade, and went off
quite eagerly with the manager.

George heaved a sigh of relief. 'You pulled us through that time, Sarah;
but it won't always go like that. I can't push.'

'You must, or you'll get pushed to the wall; but I have had another
inspiration since I came down. Why don't you weave a lot of coat-lengths
of that new shade? It's much more suitable for that than for blankets.'

'I thought the same thing when I saw it, and said something of the kind
to father, and he said he should try samples. They were almost the last
words he said to me that day before he left me.'

'It was only yesterday,' observed Sarah.

George stared at her. 'So it was! I can hardly believe it. It seems weeks
ago; but I am glad you reminded me of it, for it will please father to
find we have carried out his wishes, and I think it might "catch on," as
he said.'

'The fact is, you've got dazed with the shock. I believe you felt it more
than I did. I am very sorry for father being ill, and I think the hands
who burnt our house behaved disgracefully, and I'm glad they were turned
off; but I can't help feeling that it was father's own fault, and that
perhaps it will do him good.'

'It's not our business to judge his treatment of his employes. He was a
very liberal father to us,' said George.

'You are not so hard-hearted'----began Sarah; but a prolonged ringing at
the telephone interrupted her.

'It's mother,' she announced, 'and she's calling for you.'

George went and listened. 'Father is conscious, and has asked for us,' he
cried, and his face lightened.

'I'm very glad,' replied Sarah quietly; but her face showed no such joy
as her brother's. It is to be feared that where her father was concerned
Sarah was somewhat hard-hearted.