put yourself in his place-第17部分

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t　entering。　　〃He　periled　his　life　to　perpetrate　this　crime；　and　he　also　risked　penal　servitude　for　ten　years。　　That　he　was　not　deterred　by　the　double　risk；　proves　the　influence　of　some　powerful　motive；　and　that　motive　must　have　been　either　a　personal　feud　of　a　very　virulent　kind；　or　else　trade　fanaticism。　　From　this　alternative　there　is　no　escape。〃

Next　day；　both　journals　recorded　a　trade…meeting　at　〃The　Rising　Sun。〃　　Delegates　from　the　Edge…Tool　Forgers'　Union；　and　the　Edge…　Tool　Handlers'　Union；　and　some　other　representatives　of　Hillsborough　Unions；　were　present；　and　passed　a　resolution　repudiating；　with　disgust；　the　outrage　that　had　been　recently　committed；　and　directed　their　secretaries　to　offer　a　reward　of　twenty　pounds；　the　same　to　be　paid　to　any　person　who　would　give　such　information　as　should　lead　to　the　discovery　of　the　culprit。

On　this　the　Constitutional　commented　as　follows：〃Although　we　never　for　a　moment　suspected　these　respectable　Unions　of　conniving　at　this　enormity；　yet　it　is　satisfactory　to　find　them　not　merely　passive　spectators；　but　exerting　their　energy；　and　spending　their　money；　in　a　praiseworthy　endeavor　to　discover　and　punish　the　offenders。〃

Henry　laid　down　the　paper；　and　his　heart　felt　very　warm　to　Jobson　and　Parkin。　　〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　glad　of　that。　　They　are　not　half　a　bad　sort；　those　two；　after　all。〃

Then　he　took　up　the　Liberal；　and　being　young　and　generous；　felt　disgusted　at　its　comment：

〃This　appears　to　be　creditable　to　the　two　Unions　in　question。　　But；　unfortunately；　long　experience　proves　that　these　small　rewards　never　lead　to　any　discovery。　　They　fail　so　invariably；　that　the　Unions　do　not　risk　a　shilling　by　proffering　them。　　In　dramatic　entertainments　the　tragedy　is　followed　by　a　farce：　and　so　it　is　with　these　sanguinary　crimes　in　Hillsborough；　they　are　always　followed　by　a　repudiation；　and　offers　of　a　trumpery　reward　quite　disproportionate　to　the　offense；　and　the　only　result　of　the　farce　is　to　divert　attention　from　the　true　line　of　inquiry　as　to　who　enacted　the　tragedy。　　The　mind　craves　novelty；　and　perhaps　these　delegates　will　indulge　that　desire　by　informing　us　for　once；　what　was　the　personal　and　Corsican　feud　which　ledas　they　would　have　us　believeto　this　outrage；　and　will；　at　the　same　time；　explain　to　us　why　these　outrages　with　gunpowder　have　never；　either　in　this　or　in　any　preceding　case；　attacked　any　but　non…union　men。〃

When　Henry　had　read　thus　far；　the　writer　of　the　leader　entered　the　room　with　Mr。　Bayne。

A　gentleman　not　above　the　middle　height；　but　with　a　remarkable　chest；　both　broad　and　deep；　yet　he　was　not　unwieldy；　like　Dr。　Amboyne；　but　clean…built；　and　symmetrical。　　An　agreeable　face；　with　one　remarkable　feature；　a　mouth　full　of　iron　resolution；　and　a　slight　humorous　dimple　at　the　corners。

He　shook　hands　with　Henry；　and　said；　〃I　wish　to　ask　you　a　question　or　two；　in　the　way　of　business：　but　first　let　me　express　my　sympathy；　as　a　man；　and　my　detestation　of　the　ruffians　that　have　so　nearly　victimized　you。〃

This　was　very　hearty；　and　Henry　thanked　him　with　some　emotion。　〃But；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃if　I　am　to　reply　to　your　questions；　you　must　promise　me　you　will　never　publish　my　name。〃

〃It　is　on　account　of　his　mother；〃　whispered　Bayne。

〃Yes；　sir。　　It　was　her　misfortune　to　lose　my　father　by　a　violent　death；　and　of　course　you　may　imagine〃

〃Say　no　more；〃　said　Mr。　Holdfast：　〃your　name　shall　not　appear。　　And　let　me　seedoes　your　mother　know　you　work　here？〃

〃Yes；　she　does。〃

〃Then　we　had　better　keep　Cheetham's　name　out　as　well。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　sir；　thank　you。　　Now　I'll　answer　any　questions　you　like。〃

〃Well；　then；　I　hear　this　outrage　was　preceded　by　several　letters。　Could　I　see　them？〃

〃Certainly。　　I　carry　mine　always　in　my　pocket；　for　fear　my　poor　mother　should　see　them：　and；　Mr。　Bayne；　you　have　got　Cheetham's。〃

In　another　minute　the　whole　correspondence　was　on　the　table；　and　Mr。　Holdfast　laid　it　out　in　order；　like　a　map；　and　went　through　it；　taking　notes。　　〃What　a　comedy；〃　said　he。　　〃All　but　the　denouement。　Now；　Mr。　Bayne；　can　any　other　manufacturers　show　me　a　correspondence　of　this　kind？〃

〃Is　there　one　that　can't？　　There　isn't　a　power…wheel；　or　a　water…　wheel；　within　eight　miles　of　Hillsborough；　that　can't　show　you　just　such　a　correspondence　as　this；　and　rattening；　or　worse；　at　the　tail　of　it。〃

Mr。　Holdfast's　eye　sparkled　like　a　diamond。　　〃I'll　make　the　round；〃　said　he。　　〃And；　Mr。　Little；　perhaps　you　will　be　kind　enough　to　go　with　me；　and　let　me　question　you；　on　the　road。　　I　have　no　sub…　editor；　no　staff；　I　carry　the　whole　journal　on　my　head。　　Every　day　is　a　hard　race　between　Time　and　me；　and　not　a　minute　to　spare。〃

Mr。　Cheetham　was　expected　at　the　works　this　afternoon：　so　Henry；　on　leaving　Mr。　Holdfast；　returned　to　them；　and　found　him　there　with　Bayne；　looking；　disconsolately；　over　a　dozen　orders　for　carving…　tools。

〃Glad　to　see　you　again；　my　lad；〃　said　Cheetham。　　〃Why；　you　look　all　the　better。〃

〃I'm　none　the　worse；　sir。〃

〃Come　to　take　your　balance　and　leave　me？〃　　This　was　said　half　plaintively；　half　crossly。

〃If　you　wish　it；　sir。〃

〃Not　I。　　How　is　it　to　be？〃

〃Well；　sir；　I　say　to　you　what　you　said　to　me　the　other　day；　Stick　to　me；　and　I'll　stick　to　you。〃

〃I'll　stick　to　you。〃

Bayne　held　up　his　hands　piteously　to　them　both。

〃What　sir？〃　faltered　he；　turning　to　Cheetham。　　〃after　all　your　experience！〃　then　to　Henry；　〃What；　fight　the　Trades；　after　the　lesson　they　have　given　you？〃

〃I'll　fight　them　all　the　more　for　that；〃　said　Henry；　grinding　his　teeth；　〃fight　them　till　all　is　blue。〃

〃So　will　I。　　That　for　the　Trades！〃

〃Heaven　help　you　both！〃　groaned　Bayne；　and　looked　the　picture　of　despair。

〃You　promised　me　shutters；　with　a　detonator；　sir。〃

〃Ay；　but　you　objected。〃

〃That　was　before　they　blew　me　up。〃

〃Just　so。　　Shutters　shall　be　hung　to…morrow；　and　the　detonators　I'll　fix　myself。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir。　　Would　you　mind　engaging　a　watchman？〃

Hum？　　Notif　you　will　share　the　expense。〃

〃I'll　pay　one…third。〃

〃Why　should　I　pay　two　thirds？　　It　is　not　like　shutters　and　Bramah　locks：　they　are　property。　　However；　he'll　be　good　against　rattening；　and　you　have　lost　a　fortnight；　and　there　are　a　good　many　orders。　Give　me　a　good　day's　work；　and　we　won't　quarrel　over　the　watchman。〃　He　then　inquired；　rather　nervously；　whether　there　was　anything　more。

〃No；　sir：　we　are　agreed。　　And　I'll　give　you　good　work；　and　full　time。〃


The　die　was　cast；　and　now　he　must　go　home　and　face　his　mother。　　For　the　first　time　this　many　years　he　was　half　afraid　to　go　near　her。　He　dreaded　remonstrances　and　tears：　tears　that　he　could　not　dry；　remonstrances　that　would　worry　him；　but　could　not　shake　him。

This　young　man；　who　had　just　screwed　his　physical　courage　up　to　defy　the　redoubtable　Unions　had　a　fit　of　moral　cowardice；　and　was　so　reluctant　to　encounter　the　gentlest　woman　in　England；　that　he　dined　at　a　chop…house；　and　then　sauntered　into　a　music　hall；　and　did　not　get　home　till　past　ten；　meaning　to　say　a　few　kind；　hurried　words；　then　yawn；　and　slip　to　bed。

But；　meantime；　Mrs。　Little's　mind　had　not　been　idle。　　She　had　long　divined　a　young　rival　in　her　son's　heart；　and　many　a　little　pang　of　jealousy　had　traversed　her　own。　　This　morning；　with　a　quickness　which　may　seem　remarkable　to　those　who　have　not　observed　the　watchful　keenness　of　maternal　love；　she　had　seen　that　her　rival　had　worked　upon　Henry　to　resign　his　declared　intention　of　leaving　Hillsborough。　　Then　she　felt　her　way；　and；　in　a　moment；　she　had　found　the　younger　woman　was　the　stronger。

She　assumed　as　a　matter　of　course；　that　this　girl　was　in　love　with　Henry　（who　would　not　be　in　love　with　him？）；　and　had　hung；　weeping；　round　his　neck；　when　he　called　from　Cairnhope　to　bid　her　farewell；　and　had　made　him　promise　to　stay。　　This　was　the　mother's　theory；　wrong；　but　rational。

Then　came　the　question；　What　should　she　do？　　Fight　against　youth　and　nature？　　Fight；　unlikely　to　succeed；　sure　to　irritate　and　disturb。　Risk　any　of　that　rare　affection　and　confidence　her　son　had　always　given　her？

While　her　thoughts　ran　this　way；　seven　o'clock　came；　and　no　Henry。　Eight　o'clock；　and　no　Henry。　　〃Ah！〃　thought　the　mother；　〃that　one　word　of　mine　has　had　this　effect　already。〃

She　prepared　an　exquisite　little　supper。　　She　made　her　own　toilet　with　particular　care；　and；　when　all　was　ready；　she　sat　down　and　comforted　herself　by　reading　his　letters；　and　comparing　his　love　with　the　cavalier　behavior　of　so　many　sons　in　this　island；　the　most　unfilial　country　in　Europe。

At　half　past　ten　Henry　came　up　the　stairs；　not　with　the　usual　light　elastic　tread；　but　with　slow；　hesitating　foot。　　Her　quick　ear　caught　that　too；　and　her　gentle　bosom　yearned。　　What；　had　she　frightened　him？　　He　opened　the　door；　and　she　rose　to　receive　him　all　smiles。　〃You　are　rather　late；　dear；〃　she　said；　〃but　all　the　better。　　It　has　given　me　an　excuse　for　reading　your　dear　letters　all　over　again；　and　I　have　a　thousand　questions　to　ask　you　about　Cairnhope。　　But　sit　down　first；　and　have　your　supper。〃

Henry　brightened　up；　and　ate　a　good　supper；　and　his　mother　plied　him　with　questions；　all　about　Cairnhope。

Here　was　an　unexpected　relief。　　Henry　took　a　superficial　view　of　all　this。　　Sharp　young　men　of　twenty…four　understand　a　great　many　things；　but　they　can't　quite　measure　their　mothers　yet。

Henry　was　selfishly　pleased；　but　not　ungrateful；　and　they　passed　a　pleasant　and　affectionate　time：　and；　as　for　leaving　Hillsborough；　the　topic　was　avoided　by　tacit　consent。

Next　morning；　after　this　easy　victory；　Henry　took　a　cab　and　got　to　〃Woodbine　Villa〃　by　a　circuitous　route。　　His　heart　beat　high　as　he　entered　the　room　where　Grace　was　seated。　　After　the　extraordinary　warmth　and　familiarity　she　had　shown　him　at　the　last　interview；　he　took　for　granted　he　had　made　a　lasting　progress　in　her　regard。

But　she　received　him　with　a　cold　and　distant　manner；　that　quite　benumbed　him。　　Grace　Carden's　face　and　manner　were　so　much　more　expressive　than　other　people's；　that　you　would　never　mistake　or　doubt　the　mood　she　was　in；　and　this　morning　she　was　freezing。

The　fact　is；　Miss　Carden　had　been　tormenting　herself：　and　when　beauty　suffers；　it　is　very　apt　to　make　others　suffer　as　well。

〃I　am　glad　you　are　come；　Mr。　Little；〃　said　she；　〃for　I　have　been