he operative. "They call themselves masters, but we
do not. I will tell you. His works are a mile out of town; but it seems
only a step, for there are houses all the way. Job Thornberry & Co.'s
Print-works, Pendleton Road--any one can guide you--and when you get
there, you can ask for me, if you like. I am his overlooker, and my name
is ENOCH CRAGGS."

CHAPTER LXIII

"You are not much altered," said Thornberry, as he retained Endymion's
hand, and he looked at him earnestly; "and yet you have become a man.
I suppose I am ten years your senior. I have never been back to the old
place, and yet I sometimes think I should like to be buried there. The
old man has been here, and more than once, and liked it well enough; at
least, I hope so. He told me a good deal about you all; some sorrows,
and, I hope, some joys. I heard of Miss Myra's marriage; she was a sweet
young lady; the gravest person I ever knew; I never knew her smile. I
remember they thought her proud, but I always had a fancy for her.
Well; she has married a topsawyer--I believe the ablest of them all, and
probably the most unprincipled; though I ought not to say that to you.
However, public men are spoken freely of. I wish to Heaven you would get
him to leave off tinkering those commercial treaties that he is always
making such a fuss about. More pernicious nonsense was never devised
by man than treaties of commerce. However, their precious most favoured
nation clause will break down the whole concern yet. But you wish to see
the works; I will show them to you myself. There is not much going on
now, and the stagnation increases daily. And then, if you are willing,
we will go home and have a bit of lunch--I live hard by. My best works
are my wife and children: I have made that joke before, as you can well
fancy."

This was the greeting, sincere but not unkind, of Job Thornberry to
Endymion on the day after the meeting of the Anti-Corn-Law League. To
Endymion it was an interesting, and, as he believed it would prove, a
useful encounter.

The print-works were among the most considerable of their kind at
Manchester, but they were working now with reduced numbers and at
half-time. It was the energy and the taste and invention of Thornberry
that had given them their reputation, and secured them extensive
markets. He had worked with borrowed capital, but had paid off his debt,
and his establishment was now his own; but, stimulated by his success,
he had made a