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man to drive rapidly to a certain alley。 There he left the cab； ran down the alley； and turned a corner； and went home round about。 He doubled like a hare； and dodged like a criminal evading justice。
But the next morning he felt a pleasing sense of security when he opened his forge…room with the Bramah key； and found no letters nor threats of any kind had been able to penetrate。
Moreover； all this time you will understand he was visiting 〃Woodbine Cottage〃 twice a week； and carving Grace Carden's bust。
Those delightful hours did much to compensate him for his troubles in the town； and were even of some service to him in training him to fence with the trades of Hillsborough： for at 〃Woodbine Villa〃 he had to keep an ardent passion within the strict bounds of reverence； and in the town he had constantly to curb another passion； wrath； and keep it within the bounds of prudence。 These were kindred exercises of self…restraint； and taught him self…government beyond his years。 But what he benefited most by； after all； was the direct and calming effect upon his agitated heart； and irritated nerves； that preceded； and accompanied； and followed these sweet； tranquilizing visits。 They were soft； solacing； and soothing； they were periodical and certain； he could count on leaving his cares and worries； twice every week； at the door of that dear villa； and； when he took them up again； they were no longer the same； heavenly balm had been shed over them； and over his boiling blood。
One Saturday he heard； by a side…wind； that the Unions at a general meeting had debated his case； and there had been some violent speeches； and no decision come to； but the majority adverse to him。 This discouraged him sadly； and his yearning heart turned all the more toward his haven of rest； and the hours； few but blissful； that awaited him。
About 11 o'clock； that same day； the postman brought him a letter； so vilely addressed； that it had been taken to two or three places； on speculation； before it reached its destination。
Little saw at once it was another anonymous communication。 But he was getting callous to these missives； and he even took it with a certain degree of satisfaction。 〃Well done； Bramah！ Obliged to send their venom by post now。〃 This was the feeling uppermost in his mind。 In short； he opened the letter with as much contempt as anger。
But he had no sooner read the foul scrawl； than his heart died within him。
〃Thou's sharp but not sharp enow。 We know where thou goes courting up hill。 Window is all glass and ripe for a Peter shall blow the house tatums。 There's the stuff in Hillsbro and the men that have done others so； and will do her job as wells thine。 Powders a good servant but a bad master。
〃ONE WHO MEANS DOING WHAT HE SAYS。〃
At this diabolical threat； young Little leaned sick and broken over the handle of his bellows。
Then he got up； and went to Mr。 Cheetham； and said； patiently； 〃Sir； I am sorry to say I must leave you this very day。〃
〃Don't say that； Little； don't say that。〃
〃Oh it is with a heavy heart； sir； and I shall always remember your kindness。 But a man knows when he is beat。 And I'm beat now。〃 He hung his head in silence awhile。 Then he said； in a faint voice； 〃This is what has done it； sir；〃 and handed him the letter。
Mr。 Cheetham examined it； and said； 〃I am not surprised at your being taken aback by this。 But it's nothing new to us； we have all been threatened in this form。 Why； the very last time I fought the trades； my wife was threatened I should be brought home on a shutter； with my intestines sweeping the ground。 That was the purport； only it was put vernacular and stronger。 And they reminded me that the old gal's clothes （that is Mrs。 Cheetham： she is only twenty…six； and the prettiest lass in Coventry； and has a row of ivories that would do your heart good： now these Hillsborough hags haven't got a set of front teeth among 'em； young or old）。 Well； they told me the old gal's clothes could easily be spoiled； and her doll's face and all； with a penn'orth of vitriol。〃
〃The monsters！〃
〃But it was all brag。 These things are threatened fifty times； for once they are done。〃
〃I shall not risk it。 My own skin； if you like。 But not hers： never； Mr。 Cheetham： oh； never； never！〃
〃Well； but；〃 said Mr。 Cheetham； 〃she is in no danger so long as you keep away from her。 They might fling one of their petards in at the window； if you were there； but otherwise； never； in this world。 No； no； Little； they are not so bad as that。 They have blown up a whole household； to get at the obnoxious party； but they always make sure he is there first。〃
Bayne was appealed to； and confirmed this； and； with great difficulty； they prevailed on Little to remain with them； until the Unions should decide； and to discontinue his visits to the house on the hill in the meantime。 I need hardly say they had no idea the house on the hill was 〃Woodbine Villa。〃
He left them； and； sick at heart； turned away from Heath Hill； and strolled out of the lower part of the town； and wandered almost at random； and sad as death。
He soon left the main road； and crossed a stile； it took him by the side of a babbling brook； and at the edge of a picturesque wood。 Ever and anon he came to a water…wheel； and above the water…wheel a dam made originally by art； but now looking like a sweet little lake。 They were beautiful places； the wheels and their attendant works were old and rugged； but picturesque and countrified； and the little lakes behind； fringed by the master…grinder's garden； were strangely peaceful and pretty。 Here the vulgar labor of the grindstone was made beautiful and incredibly poetic。
〃Ah！〃 thought poor Little； 〃how happy a workman must be that plies his trade here in the fresh air。 And how unfortunate I am to be tied to a power…wheel； in that filthy town； instead of being here； where Nature turns the wheel； and the birds chirp at hand； and the scene and the air are all purity and peace。〃
One place of the kind was particularly charming。 The dam was larger than most； and sloping grass on one side； cropped short by the grinder's sheep： on the other his strip of garden： and bushes and flowers hung over the edge and glassed themselves in the clear water。 Below the wheel； and at one side； was the master…grinder's cottage； covered with creepers。
But Henry's mind was in no state to enjoy these beauties。 He envied them； and； at last； they oppressed him； and he turned his back on them； and wandered； disconsolate； home。
He sat down on a stool by his mother； and laid his beating temples on her knees。
〃What is it； my darling？〃 said she softly。
〃Well； mother； for one thing； the Unions are against me； and I see I shall have to leave Hillsborough； soon or late。〃
〃Never mind； dear； happiness does not depend upon the place we live in； and oh； Henry； whatever you do； never quarrel with those terrible grinders and people。 The world is wide。 Let us go back to London； the sooner the better。 I have long seen there was something worrying you。 But Saturday and Mondaythey used to be your bright days。〃
〃It will come to that； I suppose；〃 said Henry； evading her last obser