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ECT。〃
〃We want no cockneys here； to steal our work。〃
〃Did ever a anvil…man handle his own blades in Hillsborough？〃
〃Not till this knobstick came；〃 said another。
Henry turned sharp round upon them haughtily； and such was the power of his prompt defiant attitude； and his eye； which flashed black lightning； that there was a slight movement of recoil among the actual speakers。 They recovered it immediately； strong in numbers； but in that same moment Little also recovered his discretion； and he had the address to step briskly toward the gate and call out the porter； he said to him in rather a loud voice； for all to hear； 〃if anybody asks for Henry Little； say he has gone to the Secretary of the Edge…Tool Forgers' Union。〃 He then went out of the works； but； as he went； he heard some respectable workman say to the scum； 〃Come； shut up now。 It is in better hands than yours。〃
Mr。 Jobson； the Secretary of the Edge…Tool Forgers； was not at home； but his servant…girl advised Little to try the 〃Rising Sun；〃 and in the parlor of that orb he found Mr。 Jobson； in company with other magnates of the same class； discussing a powerful leader of The Hillsborough Liberal； in which was advocated the extension of the franchise； a measure calculated to throw prodigious power into the hands of Hillsborough operatives； because of their great number； and their habit of living each workman in a tenement of his own； however small。
Little waited till The Liberal had received its meed of approbation； and then asked respectfully if he might speak to Mr。 Jobson on a trade matter。 〃Certainly；〃 said Mr。 Jobson。 〃Who are you？〃
〃My name is Little。 I make the carving…tools at Cheetham's。〃
〃I'll go home with you； my house is hard by。〃
When they got to the house； Jobson told him to sit down； and asked him； in a smooth and well…modulated voice； what was the nature of the business。 This query； coming from him； who had set the stone rolling that bade fair to crush him； rather surprised Henry。 He put his hand into his pocket； and produced the threatening note； but said nothing as to the time or manner of its arrival。
Mr。 Jobson perused it carefully； and then returned it to Henry。 〃What have we to do with this？〃 and he looked quite puzzled。
〃Why； sir； it is the act of your Union。〃
〃You are sadly misinformed； Mr。 Little。 WE NEVER THREATEN。 All we do is to remind the master that； if he does not do certain things； certain other things will probably be done by us； and this we wrap up in the kindest way。〃
〃But； sir； you wrote to Cheetham against me。〃
〃Did we？ Then it will be in my letter…book。〃 He took down a book； examined it； and said； 〃You are quite right。 Here's a copy of the letter。 Now surely； sir； comparing the language； the manners； and the spelling； with that of the ruffian whose scrawl you received this morning〃
〃Then you disown the ruffian's threat？〃
〃Most emphatically。 And if you can trace it home； he shall smart for interfering in our business。〃
〃Oh； if the trade disowns the blackguard； I can despise him。 But you can't wonder at my thinking all these letters were steps of the sameyes； and Mr。 Bayne thought so too； for he said this was the regular routine； and ends in DOING a poor fellow for gaining his bread。〃
Mr。 Jobson begged to explain。
〃Many complaints are brought to us； who advise the trades。 When they are frivolous； we are unwilling to disturb the harmony of employers and workmen； we reason with the complainant； and the thing dies away。 When the grievance is substantial； we take it out of the individual's hands and lay it before the working committee。 A civil note is sent to the master； or a respectable member of the committee calls on him； and urges him to redress the grievance； but always in kind and civil terms。 The master generally assents： experience has taught him it is his wisest course。 But if he refuses； we are bound to report the refusal to a larger committee； and sometimes a letter emanates from them； reminding the master that he has been a loser before by acts of injustice； and hinting that he may be a loser again。 I do not quite approve this form of communication。 But certainly it has often prevented the mischief from spreading further。 Well； but perhaps he continues rebellious。 What follows？ We can't lock up facts that affect the trade； we are bound to report the case at the next general meeting。 It excites comments； some of them perhaps a little intemperate； the lower kind of workmen get inflamed with passion； and often； I am sorry to say； write ruffianly letters； and now and then do ruffianly acts； which disgrace the town； and are strongly reprobated by us。 Why； Mr。 Little； it has been my lot to send a civil remonstrance； written with my own hand； in pretty fair Englishfor a man who plied bellows and hammer twenty years of my lifeand be treated with silent contempt； and two months after to be offering a reward of twenty or thirty pounds； for the discovery of some misguided man； that had taken on himself to right this very matter with a can of gunpowder； or some such coarse expedient。〃
〃Yes； but； sir； what hurts me is； you don't consider me to be worth a civil note。 You only remonstrated with Cheetham。〃
〃You can't wonder at that。 Our trade hasn't been together many years： and what drove us together？ The tyranny of our employers。 What has kept us together？ The bitter experience of hard work and little pay； whenever we were out of union。 Those who now direct the trades are old enough to remember when we were all ground down to the dust by the greedy masters； and therefore it is natural； when a grievance arises； we should be inclined to look to those old offenders for redress in the first instance。 Sometimes the masters convince us the fault lies with workmen； and then we trouble the master no more than we are forced to do in order to act upon the offenders。 But； to come to the point： what is your proposal？〃
〃I beg to be admitted into the union。〃
〃What union？〃
〃Why； of course； the one I have offended； through ignorance。 The edge…tool forgers。〃
Jobson shook his head； and said he feared there were one or two objections。
Henry saw it was no use bidding low。 〃I'll pay L15 down；〃 said he； 〃and I'll engage not to draw relief from your fund； unless disabled by accident or violence。〃
〃I will submit your offer to the trade；〃 said Jobson。 He added； 〃Then there； I conclude； the matter rests for the present。〃
Henry interpreted this to mean that he had nothing to apprehend； unless his proposal should be rejected。 He put the L15 down on the table； though Mr。 Jobson told him that was premature； and went off as light as a feather。 Being nice and clean； and his afternoon's work spoiled； he could not resist the temptation； he went to 〃Woodbine Villa。〃 He found Miss Carden at home； and she looked quietly pleased at his unexpected arrival： but Jael's color came and went； and her tranquil bosom rose and fell slowly； but grandly； for a minute； as she lowered her head over her work。
This was a heavenly change to Henry Little。 Away from the deafening workshop； and the mean jealousies and brutality of his inferiors； who despised him； to the prese