o it,' cried his
uncle at last.

'But that is what I intend doing, in spite of your advice to the
contrary,' observed George quietly.

His uncle cast a swift look at him. 'All the same, I should pass all my
law examinations, if I were you, in case--in case you might change your
mind,' he observed equally quietly; and then the two got up and went
across the mill-yard to the dyeing-rooms to find Sarah, who was still
there with Matthew.

George noticed the kindly words of greetings and the friendly glances
that passed between master and 'hands,' as all the workers are called up
north.

'Now, that man's been with us thirty years; he married his wife from
here, and his family all work for us; and this one has been fifty years,
and only comes once a week just to say he still works at the old mill,'
explained Mr Howroyd.

'That's as it should be,' said George, touching his hat at each greeting,
and raising it to an old woman who hobbled past them.

His uncle smiled a little, for such courtesy is not usual in mills, where
kind hearts are hidden under rough exteriors and blunt speech; but though
the 'hands' smiled, they said to each other, after the uncle and nephew
had passed by, that 'he was a gentleman was young Clay, and took after
his uncle Howroyd more'n his father, that was plain!'

'Oh uncle, why did you come so soon? I didn't want you yet,' cried Sarah
when she saw the two at the door.

'Didn't you? It strikes me it's about time we did come. My word, you've
got yourself into a nice state, my lass!' exclaimed Mr Howroyd, as well
he might, for Sarah, in her interest in the new shades, had gone too near
the huge vats and wet materials, and her dress was the colours of the
rainbow, while her hands were a deep crimson.

'But just look what a lovely colour this crimson is, George!' she
exclaimed, holding up a rag which she had dyed.

George contemplated his sister in silence, and then said, 'We'd better
get a taxi to go home, I think;' and added, 'Yes, it's a pretty shade,
but I think there's a little too much blue in it to be quite becoming.'
And, turning to the dyer, he began talking pleasantly about dyeing; and
when he went away the man remarked to Mr William Howroyd, 'He's a sharp
young gentleman is yon, and I think I'll try his advice.'

Meanwhile Sarah was sitting in the cab with her brother, contemplating
rather ruefully her stained hands. 'I say, will it come off?' she
inquired anxiously.

'Yes, in tim