put yourself in his place-第21部分

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with；　and　spoiled　my　forge？　　No；　Bayne；　no；　this　is　too　unjust　and　too　tyrannical。　　Flesh　and　blood　won't　bear　it。　　I'll　shut　up　the　works；　and　go　back　to　my　grindstone。　　Better　live　on　bread　and　water　than　live　like　a　slave。〃

Redcar　took　a　written　paper　out　of　his　pocket。　　〃There　are　the　terms　written　down；〃　said　he；　〃if　you　sign　them；　the　strike　ends；　if　you　don't；　it　continuestill　you　do。〃

Cheetham　writhed　under　the　pressure。　　Orders　were　pouring　in；　trade　brisk；　hands　scarce。　　Each　day　would　add　a　further　loss　of　many　pounds　for　wages；　and　doubtless　raise　fresh　exactions。　　He　gulped　down　something　very　like　a　sob；　and　both　his　hand　and　his　voice　shook　with　strong　passion　as　he　took　the　pen。　　〃I'll　sign　it；　but　if　ever　my　turn　comes；　I'll　remember　this　against　you。　　This　shows　what　they　really　are；　Bayne。　　Oh；　if　ever　you　workmen　get　power；　GOD　HELP　THE　WORLD！〃

These　words　seemed　to　come　in　a　great　prophetic　agony　out　of　a　bursting　heart。

But　the　representative　of　the　Unions　was　neither　moved　by　them　nor　irritated。

〃All　right；〃　said　he；　phlegmatically；　〃the　winner　takes　his　bite：　the　loser　gets　his　bark：　that's　reason。〃


Henry　Little　was　in　his　handling…room；　working　away；　with　a　bright　perspective　before　him；　when　Bayne　knocked　at　the　door；　and　entered　with　Redcar。　　Bayne's　face　wore　an　expression　so　piteous；　that　Henry　divined　mischief　at　once。

〃Little；　my　poor　fellow；　it　is　all　over。　　We　are　obliged　to　part　with　you。〃

〃Cheetham　has　thrown　me　over？〃

〃What　could　he　do？　　I　am　to　ask　you　to　vacate　these　rooms；　that　we　may　get　our　half…day　out　of　the　grinders。〃

Henry　turned　pale；　but　there　was　no　help　for　it。

He　got　up　in　a　very　leisurely　way；　and；　while　he　was　putting　on　his　coat；　he　told　Bayne；　doggedly；　he　should　expect　his　month's　salary。

As　he　was　leaving；　Redcar　spoke　to　him　in　rather　a　sheepish　way。　〃Shake　hands；　old　lad；〃　said　he；　〃thou　knows　one　or　t'other　must　win；　and　there's　not　a　grain　of　spite　against　thee。　　It's　just　a　trade　matter。〃

Henry　stood　with　his　arms　akimbo；　and　looked　at　Redcar。　　〃I　was　in　hopes；〃　said　he；　grinding　his　teeth；　〃you　were　going　to　ask　me　to　take　a　turn　with　you　in　the　yard；　man　to　man。　　But　I　can't　refuse　my　hand　to　one　of　my　own　sort　that　asks　it。　　There　'tis。　　After　all；　you　deserve　to　win；　for　you　are　true　to　each　other；　but　a　master　can't　be　true　to　a　man；　nor　to　anything　on　earth；　but　his　pocket。〃

He　then　strolled　out　into　the　yard；　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　and　whistled　〃The　Harmonious　Blacksmith〃　very　sick　at　heart。


CHAPTER　IX。


The　strike　was　over；　the　grinders　poured　into　the　works；　and　the　grindstones　revolved。　　Henry　Little　leaned　against　an　angle　of　the　building；　and　listened　with　aching　heart　to　their　remorseless　thunder。　　He　stood　there　disconsolatethe　one　workman　out　of　work　and　sipped　the　bitter　cup；　defeat。　　Then　he　walked　out　at　the　gates；　and　wandered　languidly　into　the　streets。　　He　was　miserable；　and　had　nobody　to　mourn　to；　for　the　main　cause　of　his　grief　lay　beneath　the　surface　of　this　defeat；　and　how　could　he　reveal　it；　now　that　his　ambitious　love　looked　utter　madness？　　Young　as　he　was；　he　had　seen　there　is　no　sympathy　in　the　world　for　any　man　who　loves　out　of　his　sphere。　　Indeed；　whatever　cures　or　crushes　such　a　passion；　is　hailed　by　the　by…standers　as　a　sharp　but　wholesome　medicine。

He　sauntered　about；　and　examined　all　the　shops　with　lack…luster　eye。　He　looked　in　at　everything；　but　observed　nothing；　scarcely　saw　anything。　　All　his　senses　were　turned　inward。　　It　was　such　a　pitiable　and　galling　result　of　a　gallant　fight。　　Even　the　insurance　office　had　got　the　better　of　him。　　It　had　taken　one…third　of　his　savings；　and　the　very　next　day　his　trade　was　gone；　and　his　life　in　no　danger。　　The　〃Gosshawk〃　had　plucked　him；　and　the　trade　had　tied　his　hands。　　Rack　his　invention　how　he　would；　he　could　see　no　way　of　becoming　a　master　in　Hillsborough；　except　by　leaving　Hillsborough；　and　working　hard　and　long　in　some　other　town。　　He　felt　in　his　own　heart　the　love　and　constancy　to　do　this；　but　his　reason　told　him　such　constancy　would　be　wasted；　for　while　he　was　working　at　a　distance；　the　impression；　if　any；　he　had　made　on　her　would　wear　away；　and　some　man　born　with　money；　would　step　in　and　carry　her　gayly　off。　　This　thought　returned　to　him　again　and　again；　and　exasperated　him　so　at　last；　that　he　resolved　to　go　to　〃Woodbine　Villa；〃　and　tell　her　his　heart　before　he　left　the　place。　　Then　he　should　be　rejected；　no　doubt；　but　perhaps　pitied；　and　not　so　easily　forgotten　as　if　he　had　melted　silently　away。

He　walked　up　the　hill；　first　rapidly；　then　slowly。　　He　called　at　〃Woodbine　Villa。〃

The　answer　was　〃Not　at　home。〃

〃Everything　is　against　me；〃　said　he。

He　wandered　wearily　down　again；　and　just　at　the　entrance　of　the　town　he　met　a　gentleman　with　a　lady　on　each　arm；　and　one　of　those　ladies　was　Miss　Carden。　　The　fortunate　cavalier　was　Mr。　Coventry；　whom　Henry　would　have　seen　long　before　this；　but　he　had　been　in　Paris　for　the　last　four　months。　　He　had　come　back　fuller　than　ever　of　agreeable　gossip；　and　Grace　was　chatting　away　to　him；　and　beaming　with　pleasure；　as　innocent　girls　do；　when　out　on　a　walk　with　a　companion　they　like。　　She　was　so　absorbed　she　did　not　even　see　Henry　Little。　　He　went　off　the　pavement　to　make　room　for　their　tyrannical　crinolines；　and　passed　unnoticed。

He　had　flushed　with　joy　at　first　sight　of　her；　but　now　a　deadly　qualm　seized　him。　　The　gentleman　was　handsome　and　commanding；　Miss　Carden　seemed　very　happy；　hanging　on　his　arm；　none　the　less　bright　and　happy　that　he；　her　humble　worshiper；　was　downcast　and　wretched。

It　did　not　positively　prove　much；　yet　it　indicated　how　little　he　must　be　to　her：　and　somehow　it　made　him　realize　more　clearly　the　great　disadvantage　at　which　he　lay；　compared　with　an　admirer　belonging　to　her　own　class。　　Hitherto　his　senses　had　always　been　against　his　reason：　but　now　for　once　they　co…operated　with　his　judgment；　and　made　him　feel　that；　were　he　to　toil　for　years　in　London；　or　Birmingham；　and　amass　a　fortune；　he　should　only　be　where　that　gentleman　was　already；　and　while　the　workman；　far　away；　was　slaving；　that　gentleman　and　others　would　be　courting　her。　　She　might　refuse　one　or　two。　　But　she　would　not　refuse　them　all。

Then；　in　his　despair；　he　murmured；　〃Would　to　God　I　had　never　seen　her！〃

He　made　a　fierce　resolve　he　would　go　home；　and　tell　his　mother　she　could　pack　up。

He　quickened　his　steps；　for　fear　his　poor　sorrowful　heart　should　falter。

But；　when　he　had　settled　on　this　course；　lo！　a　fountain　of　universal　hatred　seemed　to　bubble　in　his　heart。　　He　burned　to　inflict　some　mortal　injury　upon　Jobson；　Parkin；　Grotait；　Cheetham；　and　all　who　had　taken　a　part；　either　active　or　passive；　in　goading　him　to　despair。　　Now　Mr。　Cheetham's　works　lay　right　in　his　way；　and　it　struck　him　he　could　make　Cheetham　smart　a　little。　　Cheetham's　god　was　money。　　Cheetham　had　thrown　him　over　for　money。　　He　would　go　to　Cheetham；　and　drive　a　dagger　into　his　pocket。

He　walked　into　the　office。　　Mr。　Cheetham　was　not　there：　but　he　found　Bayne　and　Dr。　Amboyne。

〃Mr。　Bayne；〃　said　he；　abruptly；　〃I　am　come　for　my　month's　wages。〃

The　tone　was　so　aggressive；　Bayne　looked　alarmed。　　〃Why；　Little；　poor　Mr。　Cheetham　is　gone　home　with　a　bad　headache；　and　a　sore　heart。〃

〃All　the　better。　　I　don't　want　to　tell　him　to　his　face　he　is　a　bragging　cur；　all　I　want　out　of　him　now　is　my　money；　and　you　can　pay　me　that。〃

The　pacific　Bayne　cast　a　piteous　glance　at　Dr。　Amboyne。　　〃I　have　told　you　the　whole　business；　sir。　　Oughtn't　Mr。　Little　to　wait　till　to…morrow；　and　talk　it　over　with　Mr。　Cheetham？　　I'm　only　a　servant：　and　a　man　of　peace。〃

〃Whether　he　ought　or　not；　I　think　I　can　answer　for　him　that　he　will。〃

〃I　can't；　sir；〃　said　Henry；　sturdily。　　〃I　leave　the　town　to…morrow。〃

〃Oh；　that　alters　the　case。　　But　must　you　leave　us　so　soon？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry　for　that。　　Tell　me　your　reason。　　I　don't　ask　out　of　mere　curiosity。〃

Henry　replied　with　less　than　his　usual　candor；　〃Is　it　not　reason　enough　for　leaving　a　place；　that　my　life　has　been　attempted　in　it；　and　now　my　livelihood　is　taken？〃

〃Those　are　strong　reasons。　　But；　on　the　other　hand；　your　life　is　no　longer　in　danger；　and　your　livelihood　is　not　gone；　for；　to　speak　plainly；　I　came　over　here　the　moment　I　heard　you　were　discharged；　to　ask　if　you　would　enter　my　service　on　the　same　terms　as　Mr。　Cheetham　gave　you；　only　guineas　instead　of　pounds。〃

〃What；　turn　doctor？〃

〃Oh　dear；　no；　the　doctors'　Union　would　forbid　that。　　No；　Mr。　Little；　I　am　going　to　ask　you　to　pay　me　a　compliment；　to　try　my　service　blindfold　for　one　week。　　You　can　leave　it　if　you　don't　like　it；　but　give　me　one　week's　trial。〃

〃How　can　I　refuse　you　that？〃　said　Henry；　hanging　his　head。　　〃You　have　been　a　good　friend　to　me。　　But；　sir；　mark　my　words；　this　place　will　be　my　destruction。　　Well；　when　am　I　to　begin　work？〃

〃To…morrow；　at　ten。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　said　Henry；　wearily；　then　left　the　works　and　went　home；　but；　as　he　went；　he　said　to　himself。　　〃It　is　not　my　doing。〃　　And　his　double…faced　heart　glowed　and　exulted　secretly。

He　told　his　mother　how　the　Trades　had　beaten　him；　and　he　was　out　of　work。

Mrs。　Little　consoled　him　hypocritically。　　She　was　delighted。　　Then　he　told　her　his　departure　had　been　delayed　by　Dr。　Amboyne：　that　made　her　look　a　little　anxious。

〃One　question；　dear：　now　the　Union　has　beaten　you；　they　will　not　be　so　spiteful；　will　they？〃

〃Oh；　no。　　That　is　all　over。　　The　conquerors　can　afford　to　be　good…　natured。　　Confound　them！〃

〃Then　that　is　all　I　care　about。　　Then　do　not　leave　Hillsborough。　Why　should　you？　　Wait　here　patiently。　　You　do　not　know　what　may　turn　up。〃

〃What；　mother；　do　YOU　want　to　stay　here　now？〃　said　Henry；　opening　his　eyes　with　astonishment。

〃Wherever　my　son　is　happy　and　safe　from　harm；　there　I　wish　to　stay　of　course。〃

Next　morning　Henry　called　on　Dr。　Amboyne；　and　found　him　in　his　study；　teaching　what　looked　a　boy　of　sixteen；　but　was　twenty…two；　to　read　monosyllables。　　On　Little's　entrance　the　pupil　retired　front　his　uphill　work；　and　glowered　with　vacillating　eyes。　　The　lad　had　a　fair　feminine　face；　with　three　ill　things　in　it：　a　want；　a　wildness；　and　a　weakness。　　To　be　sure　Henry　saw　it　at　a　disadvantage：　for　vivid　intelligence