there, and I must think now of other
things. The subscriptions to the League begin to come in apace. Say what
they like in the House of Commons and the vile London press, the thing
is stirring."

Wishing to turn the conversation a little, Endymion asked Mrs.
Thornberry whether she occasionally went to London.

"Never was there," she said, in a sharp, clear voice; "but I hope to go
soon."

"You will have a great deal to see."

"All I want to see, and hear, is the Rev. Servetus Frost," replied the
lady. "My idea of perfect happiness is to hear him every Sunday. He
comes here sometimes, for his sister is settled here; a very big mill.
He preached here a month ago. Should not I have liked the bishop to have
heard him, that's all! But he would not dare to go; he could not answer
a point."

"My wife is of the Unitarian persuasion," said Thornberry. "I am not. I
was born in our Church, and I keep to it; but I often go to chapel with
my wife. As for religion generally, if a man believes in his Maker and
does his duty to his neighbours, in my mind that is sufficient."

Endymion bade them good-bye, and strolled musingly towards his hotel.

Just as he reached the works again, he encountered Enoch Craggs, who was
walking into Manchester.

"I am going to our institute," said Enoch. "I do not know why, but they
have put me on the committee."

"And, I doubt not, they did very wisely," said Endymion.

"Master Thornberry was glad to see you?" said Enoch.

"And I was glad to see him."

"He has got the gift of speech," said Enoch.

"And that is a great gift."

"If wisely exercised, and I will not say he is not exercising it wisely.
Certainly for his own purpose, but whether that purpose is for the
general good--query?"

"He is against monopoly," observed Endymion inquiringly.

"Query again?" said Enoch.

"Well; he is opposed to the corn laws."

"The corn laws are very bad laws," said Enoch, "and the sooner we get
rid of them the better. But there are worse things than the corn laws."

"Hem!" said Endymion.

"There are the money laws," said Enoch.

"I did not know you cared so much about them at Manchester," said
Endymion. "I thought it was Birmingham that was chiefly interested about
currency."

"I do not care one jot about currency," said Enoch; "and, so far as
I can judge, the Birmingham chaps talk a deal of nonsense about
the matter. Leastwise, they will never convince me that a slip
of irredeemable paper