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to find them not merely passive spectators； but exerting their energy； and spending their money； in a praiseworthy endeavor to discover and punish the offenders。〃
Henry laid down the paper； and his heart felt very warm to Jobson and Parkin。 〃Come；〃 said he； 〃I am glad of that。 They are not half a bad sort； those two； after all。〃
Then he took up the Liberal； and being young and generous； felt disgusted at its comment：
〃This appears to be creditable to the two Unions in question。 But； unfortunately； long experience proves that these small rewards never lead to any discovery。 They fail so invariably； that the Unions do not risk a shilling by proffering them。 In dramatic entertainments the tragedy is followed by a farce： and so it is with these sanguinary crimes in Hillsborough； they are always followed by a repudiation； and offers of a trumpery reward quite disproportionate to the offense； and the only result of the farce is to divert attention from the true line of inquiry as to who enacted the tragedy。 The mind craves novelty； and perhaps these delegates will indulge that desire by informing us for once； what was the personal and Corsican feud which ledas they would have us believeto this outrage； and will； at the same time； explain to us why these outrages with gunpowder have never； either in this or in any preceding case； attacked any but non…union men。〃
When Henry had read thus far； the writer of the leader entered the room with Mr。 Bayne。
A gentleman not above the middle height； but with a remarkable chest； both broad and deep； yet he was not unwieldy； like Dr。 Amboyne； but clean…built； and symmetrical。 An agreeable face； with one remarkable feature； a mouth full of iron resolution； and a slight humorous dimple at the corners。
He shook hands with Henry； and said； 〃I wish to ask you a question or two； in the way of business： but first let me express my sympathy； as a man； and my detestation of the ruffians that have so nearly victimized you。〃
This was very hearty； and Henry thanked him with some emotion。 〃But； sir；〃 said he； 〃if I am to reply to your questions； you must promise me you will never publish my name。〃
〃It is on account of his mother；〃 whispered Bayne。
〃Yes； sir。 It was her misfortune to lose my father by a violent death； and of course you may imagine〃
〃Say no more；〃 said Mr。 Holdfast： 〃your name shall not appear。 And let me seedoes your mother know you work here？〃
〃Yes； she does。〃
〃Then we had better keep Cheetham's name out as well。〃
〃Oh； thank you； sir； thank you。 Now I'll answer any questions you like。〃
〃Well； then； I hear this outrage was preceded by several letters。 Could I see them？〃
〃Certainly。 I carry mine always in my pocket； for fear my poor mother should see them： and； Mr。 Bayne； you have got Cheetham's。〃
In another minute the whole correspondence was on the table； and Mr。 Holdfast laid it out in order； like a map； and went through it； taking notes。 〃What a comedy；〃 said he。 〃All but the denouement。 Now； Mr。 Bayne； can any other manufacturers show me a correspondence of this kind？〃
〃Is there one that can't？ There isn't a power…wheel； or a water… wheel； within eight miles of Hillsborough； that can't show you just such a correspondence as this； and rattening； or worse； at the tail of it。〃
Mr。 Holdfast's eye sparkled like a diamond。 〃I'll make the round；〃 said he。 〃And； Mr。 Little； perhaps you will be kind enough to go with me； and let me question you； on the road。 I have no sub… editor； no staff； I carry the whole journal on my head。 Every day is a hard race between Time and me； and not a minute to spare。〃
Mr。 Cheetham was expected at the works this afternoon： so Henry； on leaving Mr。 Holdfast； returned to them； and found him there with Bayne； looking； disconsolately； over a dozen orders for carving… tools。
〃Glad to see you again； my lad；〃 said Cheetham。 〃Why； you look all the better。〃
〃I'm none the worse； sir。〃
〃Come to take your balance and leave me？〃 This was said half plaintively； half crossly。
〃If you wish it； sir。〃
〃Not I。 How is it to be？〃
〃Well； sir； I say to you what you said to me the other day； Stick to me； and I'll stick to you。〃
〃I'll stick to you。〃
Bayne held up his hands piteously to them both。
〃What sir？〃 faltered he； turning to Cheetham。 〃after all your experience！〃 then to Henry； 〃What； fight the Trades； after the lesson they have given you？〃
〃I'll fight them all the more for that；〃 said Henry； grinding his teeth； 〃fight them till all is blue。〃
〃So will I。 That for the Trades！〃
〃Heaven help you both！〃 groaned Bayne； and looked the picture of despair。
〃You promised me shutters； with a detonator； sir。〃
〃Ay； but you objected。〃
〃That was before they blew me up。〃
〃Just so。 Shutters shall be hung to…morrow； and the detonators I'll fix myself。〃
〃Thank you； sir。 Would you mind engaging a watchman？〃
Hum？ Notif you will share the expense。〃
〃I'll pay one…third。〃
〃Why should I pay two thirds？ It is not like shutters and Bramah locks： they are property。 However； he'll be good against rattening； and you have lost a fortnight； and there are a good many orders。 Give me a good day's work； and we won't quarrel over the watchman。〃 He then inquired； rather nervously； whether there was anything more。
〃No； sir： we are agreed。 And I'll give you good work； and full time。〃
The die was cast； and now he must go home and face his mother。 For the first time this many years he was half afraid to go near her。 He dreaded remonstrances and tears： tears that he could not dry； remonstrances that would worry him； but could not shake him。
This young man； who had just screwed his physical courage up to defy the redoubtable Unions had a fit of moral cowardice； and was so reluctant to encounter the gentlest woman in England； that he dined at a chop…house； and then sauntered into a music hall； and did not get home till past ten； meaning to say a few kind； hurried words； then yawn； and slip to bed。
But； meantime； Mrs。 Little's mind had not been idle。 She had long divined a young rival in her son's heart； and many a little pang of jealousy had traversed her own。 This morning； with a quickness which may seem remarkable to those who have not observed the watchful keenness of maternal love； she had seen that her rival had worked upon Henry to resign his declared intention of leaving Hillsborough。 Then she felt her way； and； in a moment； she had found the younger woman was the stronger。
She assumed as a matter of course； that this girl was in love with Henry （who would not be in love with him？）； and had hung； weeping； round his neck； when he called from Cairnhope to bid her farewell； and had made him promise to stay。 This was the mother's theory； wrong； but rational。
Then came the question； What should she do？ Fight against youth and nature？ Fight； unlikely to succeed； sure to irritate and disturb。 Risk any of that rare affection and confidence her son had always given her？
While her thoughts ran this way； seven o'clock came； and no Henry。 Eight o'clock； and no Henry。 〃Ah！〃 thought the mother； 〃that one word of mine has had this effect already。〃
She prepared