'Well, mother,' asked Mr. Thornton that night, 'who has accepted your invitations for the twenty-first?'

'Fanny, where are the notes? The Slicksons accept, Collingbrooks accept, Stephenses accept, Browns decline.

Hales-father and daughter come,-mother too great an invalid-Macphersons come, and Mr. Horsfall, and Mr. Young. I was thinking of asking the Porters, as the Browns can't come.'

'Very good. Do you know, I'm really afraid Mrs. Hale is very far from well, from what Dr. Donaldson says.'

'It's strange of them to accept a dinner-invitation if she's very ill,' said Fanny.

'I didn't say very ill,' said her brother, rather sharply. 'I only said very far from well. They may not know it either.'

'Mother,' said he, stopping, and bravely speaking out the truth, 'I wish you would like Miss Hale.'

'Why?' asked she, startled by his earnest, yet tender manner. 'You're never thinking of marrying her?-a girl without a penny.'

'I don't think she would have me,' said Mr. Thornton, with a short laugh.

'No,' agreed his mother, 'She may not. She as good as laughed in my face when I praised her for speaking out something Mr. Bell had said. I liked the girl for doing it so frankly but the mother – she seems to hold herself above others, with her lady's indisposition. She likely is of a mind with her mother and would refuse a man because he is a manufacturer. I would like to know where she would find a better man!'

He came up quite cheerfully to his mother, and putting one hand lightly on her shoulder, said, 'Well, as I'm just as much convinced of the truth of what you have been saying as you can be; and as I have no thought or expectation of ever asking her to be my wife, you'll believe me for the future that I'm quite disinterested in speaking about her. I foresee trouble for that girl-perhaps want of motherly care-and I only wish you to be ready to be a friend to her, in case she needs one.'

'I would befriend any by your asking, John,' said his mother, 'But I will not permit any lack of respect to be shown my son.'

'This is so tiring a topic; we should speak of something else,' said Fanny pettishly.

'What do you say to a strike, by way of something pleasant to talk about?'

'Have the hands actually turned out?' asked Mrs. Thornton, with vivid interest.

'Hamper's men are actually out. Mine are working out their week, through fear of being prosecuted for breach of contract I'd have had every one of them up and punished for it, that left his work before his time was out.'

'The law expenses would have been more than the hands themselves were worth-a set of ungrateful naughts!' said his mother.

'To be sure. But I'd have shown them how I keep my word, and how I mean them to keep theirs. They know me by this time. Slickson's men are off-pretty certain he won't spend money in getting them punished. We're in for a turn-out, mother.'

'I hope there are not many orders in hand?'

'Of course there are. They know that well enough. But they don't quite understand all, though they think they do.'

'What do you mean, John?' asked his mother.

'Why,' said he, 'the Americans are getting their yarns so into the general market, that our only chance is producing them at a lower rate. If we can't, we may shut up shop at once, and hands and masters go alike on tramp. Yet these fools go back to the prices paid three years ago. It is too bad to find out that fools-ignorant wayward men like these-just by uniting their weak silly heads, are to rule over the fortunes of those who bring all the wisdom that knowledge and experience, and often painful thought and anxiety, can give. The next thing will be-indeed, we're all but come to it now-that we shall have to go and ask-stand hat in hand-and humbly ask the secretary of the Spinner' Union to be so kind as to furnish us with labor at their own price. That's what they want-they, who haven't the sense to see that, if we don't get a fair share of the profits to compensate us for our wear and tear here in England, we can move off to some other country; and that, what with home and foreign competition, we are none of us likely to make above a fair share, and may be thankful enough if we can get that, in an average number of years.'

'Can't you get hands from Ireland? I wouldn't keep these fellows a day. I'd teach them that I was master, and could employ what servants I liked.'

'Yes! To be sure, I can; and I will, too, if they go on long. It will be trouble and expense, and I fear there will be some danger; but I will do it, rather than give in.'

'If there is to be all this extra expense, I'm sorry we're giving a dinner just now.'

'So am I,-not because of the expense, but because I shall have much to think about, and many unexpected calls on my time. But we must have had Mr. Horsfall, and he does not stay in Milton long. And as for the others, we owe them dinners, and it's all one trouble.'

All his business plans had received a check, a sudden pull-up, from this approaching turn-out. The forethought of many anxious hours was thrown away, utterly wasted by their insane folly, which would injure themselves even more than him, though no one could set any limit to the mischief they were doing. And these were the men who thought themselves fitted to direct the masters in the disposal of their capital! Hamper had said, only this very day, that if he were ruined by the strike, he would start life again, comforted by the conviction that those who brought it on were in a worse predicament than he himself,-for he had head as well as hands, while they had only hands; and if they drove away their market, they could not follow it, nor turn to anything else. But this thought was no consolation to Mr. Thornton. It might be that revenge gave him no pleasure; it might be that he valued the position he had earned with the sweat of his brow, so much that he keenly felt its being endangered by the ignorance or folly of others,-so keenly that he had no thoughts to spare for what would he the consequences of their conduct to themselves. He paced up and down, setting his teeth a little now and then. At last it struck two. The candles were flickering in their sockets.

He lighted his own, muttering to himself: 'Once for all, they shall know whom they have got to deal with. I can give them a fortnight,-no more. If they don't see their madness before the end of that time, I must have hands from Ireland. I believe it's Slickson's doing,-confound him and his dodges! He thought he was overstocked; so he seemed to yield at first, when the deputation came to him,-and of course, he only confirmed them in their folly, as he meant to do. That's where it spread from.'

Mr. Thornton slept but poorly that night; however, he did not shirk his responsibilities. That evening, he sought to forget – if only for a moment – the subject of the strike by reading with Mr. Hale. Their lessons usually ended in discussion with both parties not necessarily satisfied but certainly happier.

Margaret was sitting in a side chair in her father's study with her needlework when Mr. Thornton arrived. As she listened to their discourse, she had to admit secretly that the conversations were often quite interesting. The strike was not spoken of and Margaret was much absorbed by her thoughts on such. She had visited with Bessy Higgins just that afternoon and the strike was much the topic. When Nicholas returned, upon his hearing of Margaret and her father attending the Thornton's dinner on the twenty first, he demanded that Margaret inquire of Mr. Thornton on his orders. Nicholas believed that come the twenty first, Marlborough Mills would be in a deal of trouble. Margaret had hastily taken her leave. Mr. Hale had also thoughts which he desired to present to Mr. Thornton's notice. He had been amongst tradesmen while his giving of speeches and been given information, as the sole stranger who could act as an intermediary and impartial judge. He was to ask of Mr. Thornton to weigh such statements this evening and proffer his opinion.

Certainly, the conversation turned to the strike, with Mr. Hale curious and inquiring and Mr. Thornton freely providing his views. Margaret was disappointed in Mr. Thornton's speech; he spoke coolly of masters and workmen alike being either trampled into ruin or pulling themselves up by dint of their own efforts.

'If the hands remain out too long, my standing orders will not get filled and I will begin to lose money. I'll have to bring in workers from Ireland.'

Margaret looked up immediately and stared at Mr. Thornton. 'Will they not be in danger from the striking Union men?' asked she with deep concern.

He got up from his chair and began to pace the floor of Mr. Hale's study with a scowl. 'Miss Hale, I do not believe that there is sufficient time to divulge all of my plans, if indeed you are of a mind to listen to them all. However, if it does indeed come to my importing hands – my pardon, workers – I shall take all necessary precautions to ensure secrecy and safety and I would hope that you would be so good as to hold this as confidential.'

Margaret drew herself up offended at this doubt of her honor. 'Of course. If you wish no word to leave this room, ask and it shall be. For a listener, you know, you could do far worse than to speak with my father. He is discreet. I personally would be interested to hear your ideas; it is so outside of my own existence and sphere that there would be great novelty to be had.' She spoke with a grave demeanor so as make Mr. Thornton aware that she was indeed in earnest. 'If the Union were to hear of your bringing in Irish, they would surely do something rash.'

'With certainty. A riot would ensue and I would be required to call the soldiers to attend my mill,' he replied with equal gravity.

'Would your household be in danger? Yourself, your mother? Would the soldiers shoot the workers? They are merely men driven mad by hunger and desperation,' Margaret asked.

Mr. Thornton hesitated to answer, as he saw that Margaret was endeavoring to remain calm despite her belief in the injustice of the situation. It more firmly entrenched in his mind her strength and beauty. 'Yes, danger is to be expected when men turn out but we masters have dealt with such circumstances before and likely will again. A person cannot be a coward and shrink from an action they know to be right if it carries with it risk to their person. I am not one to run from peril.' Here he stood up to his full height as if daring trouble to come.

Mr. Hale replied, 'A man must not distance himself from his duty regardless of hazard or obstacle, provided he holds it to be correct and good.'

'But by declaring one thing to be right, then you are declaring its opposite wrong. Both are frequently subjective labels and few will agree fully on their application. How is a human to affirm that which should be considered right for all men? You and I have differing views on many subjects, will we then agree completely on our basis for moral behavior?' pronounced Margaret.

Dixon entered the room and informed Mr. Hale that her mistress had requested his presence. He stood and said, 'I will return momentarily, Mr. Thornton. Margaret, see to our guest's comfort.'

With the short respite, Margaret now had to thank Mr. Thornton for his kindness of offering her every convenience which he could provide for the comfort of her mother. 'Mr. Thornton, your generosity to my mother is great and I must let you know my appreciation for that and for your discretion. However, I have been troubled and must make mention of something so perhaps you may alleviate my concerns. On one side, you have been kind to our family and my mother's feelings. On another side, you speak of men and masters as if they were no more than a hurdle to be overcome and any who cannot overcome, will fall to their deserved ruin. It jars me inexpressibly.'

Mr. Thornton began to perceive hope growing inside of him as he had never before experienced. She thought of him! He could not reply immediately, his feelings must be controlled. 'I have had to tread a difficult and unforgiving path with none to lift or aid me. My mother taught me very young that sacrifice is a means to an end. Money is not my ultimate goal but the maintenance of my work, of my mill and my position is of paramount importance. The strike is not to be avoided – the workers from other mills are already turned out. How, Miss Hale, would you propose we settle this strike? The Union refuses compromise and demands the wages be raised. I foresee a reduction in business ahead, even if I were to have all of my standing orders filled. To capitulate to Union dictates would spell disaster for all of the mills, not just my own.'

'Mr. Thornton, there is such a surfeit of mistrust between the masters and the men that neither side will truly believe the other. If you were to apply to an obliging mediator, conceivably the argument could be settled before too long,' replied Margaret reflectively.