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〃Very well； dearest；〃 said Grace。 〃And； if it had not been for the advertisement〃 she said no more； and the thing passed like a dark cloud between the lovers。
Bollinghope house and park were actually sold that very week； they were purchased； at more than their value； by a wealthy manufacturer： and the proceeds of this sale and the timber cleared off all Coventry's mortgages； and left him with a few hundred pounds in cash； and an estate which had not a tree on it； but also had not a debt upon it。
Of course he forfeited； by this stroke； his position as a country gentleman； but that he did not care about； since it was all done with one view； to live comfortably in Paris far from the intolerable sight of his rival's happiness with the lady he loved。
He bought in at the sale a few heirlooms and articles of furniture who does not cling； at the last moment； to something of this kind？ and rented a couple of unfurnished rooms in Hillsborough to keep them in。 He fixed the day of his departure； arranged his goods； and packed his clothes。 Then he got a letter of credit on Paris； and went about the town buying numerous articles of cutlery。
But this last simple act led to strange consequences。 He was seen and followed； and in the dead of the evening； as he was cording with his own hands a box containing a few valuables； a heavy step mounted the stair； and there was a rude knock at the door。
Mr。 Coventry felt rather uncomfortable； but he said； 〃Come in。〃
The door was opened； and there stood Sam Cole。
Coventry received him ill。 He looked up from his packing and said； 〃What on earth do you want； sir？〃
But it was not Cole's business to be offended。 〃Well； sir；〃 said he； 〃I've been looking out for you some time； and I saw you at our place； so I thought I'd come and tell you a bit o' news。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃It is about him you know of； begins with a hel。〃
〃Curse him！ I don't want to hear about him。 I'm leaving the country。 Well； what is it？〃
〃He is wrong with the trade again。〃
〃What is that to me？Ah！ sit down； Cole； and tell me。〃
Cole let him know the case； and assured him that； sooner or later； if threats did not prevail； the Union would go any length。
〃Should you be employed？〃
〃If it was a dangerous job； they'd prefer me。〃
Mr。 Coventry looked at his trunks； and then at Sam Cole。 A small voice whispered 〃Fly。〃 He stifled that warning voice； and told Cole he would stay and watch this affair； and Cole was to report to him whenever any thing fresh occurred。 From that hour this gentleman led the life of a malefactor； dressed like a workman； and never went out except at night。
Messrs。 Bolt and Little were rattened again； and never knew it till morning。 This time it was not the bands； but certain axle…nuts and screws that vanished。 The obnoxious machines came to a standstill； and Bolt fumed and cursed。 However； at ten o'clock； he and the foreman were invited to the Town hall； and there they found the missing gear； and the culprit； one of the very workmen employed at high wages on the obnoxious machines。
Ransome had bored a small hole in the ceiling； by means of which this room was watched from above； the man was observed； followed； and nabbed。 The property found on him was identified and the magistrate offered the prisoner a jury； which he declined； then the magistrate dealt with the case summarily； refused to recognize rattening； called the offense 〃petty larceny；〃 and gave the man six months' prison。
Now as Ransome； for obvious reasons； concealed the means by which this man had been detected； a conviction so mysterious shook that sense of security which ratteners had enjoyed for many years； and the trades began to find that craft had entered the lists with craft。
Unfortunately； those who directed the Saw…grinders' Union thought the existence of the trade at stake； and this minor defeat merely exasperated them。
Little received a letter telling him he was acting worse than Brinsley； who had been shot in the Briggate； and asking him； as a practical man； which he thought was likely to die first； he or the Union？ 〃You won't let us live； why should we let you？〃
Bolt was threatened in similar style； but he merely handed the missives to Ransome； he never flinched。
Not so Little。 He got nervous； and； in a weak moment； let his mother worm out of him that he was at war with the trades again。
This added anxiety to her grief； and she became worse every day。
Then Dr。 Amboyne interfered； and； after a certain degree of fencing which seems inseparable from the practice of medicinetold Henry plainly he feared the very worst if this went on； Mrs。 Little was on the brink of jaundice。 By his advice Henry took her to Aberystwith in Wales； and； when he had settled her there； went back to his troubles。
To those was now added a desolate home； gone was the noble face； the maternal eye； the soothing voice； the unfathomable love。 He never knew all her value till now。
One night； as he sat by himself sad and disconsolate； his servant came to tell him there was a young woman inquiring for Mrs。 Little。 Henry went out to her； and it was Jael Dence。 He invited her in； and told her what had happened。 Jael saw his distress； and gave him her womanly sympathy。 〃And I came to tell her my own trouble；〃 said she； 〃fie on me！〃
〃Then tell it me； Jael。 There； take off your shawl and sit down。 They shall make you a cup of tea。〃
Jael complied； with a slight blush； but as to her trouble； she said it was not worth speaking of in that house。
Henry insisted； however； and she said； 〃Mine all comes of my sister marrying that Phil Davis。 To tell you the truth； I went to church with a heavy heart on account of their both beginning with a D Dence and Davis； for 'tis an old saying
〃'If you change the name； and not the letter； You change for the worse； and not for the better。'
Well； sir； it all went wrong somehow。 Parson； he was South country； and when his time came to kiss the bride； he stood and looked ever so helpless； and I had to tell him he must kiss her； and even then he stared foolish…like a bit before he kissed her； and the poor lass's face getting up and the tear in her eye at being slighted。 And that put Patty out for one thing： and then she wouldn't give away the ribbon to the fastest runnerthe lads run a hundred yards to the bride； for ribbon and kiss； you know；wasn't the ribbon she grudged； poor wench； but the fastest runner in Cairnhope town is that Will Gibbon； a nasty； ugly； slobbering chap； that was always after her； and Philip jealous of him； so she did for the best； and Will Gibbon safe to win it。 But the village lads they didn't see the reason； and took it all to themselves。 Was she better than their granddam？ and were they worse than their grandsires？ They ran on before； and fired the anvil when she passed： just fancy！ an affront close to her own door： and； sir； she walked in a doors crying。 There was a wedding for you！ George the blacksmith was that hurt at their making free with his smithy to affront her； he lifted his arm for the first time； and pretty near killed a couple of them； poor thoughtless bodies。 Well； sir； Phil Davis always too