ght the best strength of the workman, the years of maturity and
ability, and throws him off in his old age. I know labor retorts by
carelessness, wastefulness, and utter indifference to the employer's
welfare. One is a machine to grind labor into money; the other, to grind
all he can out of capital. Perhaps my design is Utopian, but it seems as
if something ought to be done before we train a whole generation of men
to be paupers and thieves. Better that we should spend our money in
labor experiments than supporting poorhouses and prisons."

Jack had lost his embarrassment now. There was a glow on his cheek, and
a steady fire in his eye, the lines about the mouth sharply drawn, and
indicating not only masterly strength, but a kind of pitying patience,
that would never degenerate into sentimentality. It was a very manly,
trusty face; and his sterling honesty impressed Miss McLeod, long
trained to reading faces, while his sturdy good sense promised much.

"I should like Mr. Hildreth to see this paper," turning it in her still
supple fingers. "What if some of your men insist upon going out after a
year or two, Mr. Darcy?"

"There will be some kind of forfeiture, of course. The true business
capital must remain intact the whole five years: the direct proceeds of
labor may be subject to some changes, but in any event the business
interests must not be jeopardized."

There was a moment's interruption of a servant; then dinner was brought
in, and arranged for three. The bright-eyed old lady made a charming
hostess. She poured their tea with a quaint dignity, and made them feel
quite as if she were dispensing hospitality in her own house.

She was the kind of woman whom young people, past the lunacies of
sixteen, invariably like. The feminine portion told her their love
troubles, the young wives came to her with tangles and little
jealousies; and, if she could not always straighten them out, she had a
marvellous way of comforting. Young men drifted toward her by some
species of magnetism, though she had none of the fussy motherliness of
some old ladies. With faculties still keen and bright, a great fund of
good-humor that had the sparkle of champagne rather than any insipid
sweetness, she never wearied or palled on any one. She kept herself well
informed of the world's progress, she knew of the principal stars in the
literary, dramatic, and artistic world, and to be asked to her house was
a compliment.

The conversation wa