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erely； for no man values his people's lives less than my good friend John Cheetham。 Away with you both； and God speed you。
Henry walked down the street with the Anomaly； and tried to gauge his intellects。
〃What's your real name； my man？〃
〃Silly Billy。〃
〃Oh； then I'm afraid you can't do much to help me。〃
〃Oh yes； I can； because〃
〃Because what？〃
〃Because I like you。〃
〃Well； that's lucky； any way。〃
〃Billy can catch trout when nobody else can；〃 said the youngster； turning his eyes proudly up to Henry's。
〃Oh； indeed！ But you see that is not exactly what the doctor wants us for。〃
〃Nay； he's wrapped up in trout。 If it wasn't for Billy and the trout； he'd die right off。〃
Henry turned a look of silent pity on the boy； and left him in his pleasing illusion。 He wondered that Dr。 Amboyne should have tacked this biped on to him。
They entered Cheetham's works； and Henry marched grimly into the office； and showed Mr。 Bayne his credentials。
〃Why； Little； you had no need of that。〃
〃Oh； it is as well to have no misunderstanding with your employer's masters。 I visit these works for my present employer； Dr。 Amboyne； with the consent of Mr。 Cheetham； here written。〃
〃Very well； sir；〃 said Bayne； obsequiously； 〃and I respectfully solicit the honor of conducting our esteemed visitor。〃
A young man's ill…humor could not stand against this。 〃Come along； old fellow；〃 said Henry。 〃I'm a bear； with a sore heart； but who could be such a brute as quarrel with you？ Let us begin with the chaps who drove me outthe grinders。 I'm hired to philanthropize 'emdn 'em。〃
They went among the dry…grinders first； and Henry made the following observations。 The workman's hair and clothes were powdered with grit and dust from the grindstones。 The very air was impregnated with it； and soon irritated his own lungs perceptibly。 Here was early death； by bronchitis and lung diseases； reduced to a certainty。 But he also learned from the men that the quantity of metal ground off was prodigious； and entered their bodies they scarce knew how。 A razor…grinder showed him his shirt： it was a deep buff…color。 〃There； sir；〃 said he； 〃that was clean on yesterday。 All the washerwomen in Hillsbro' can't make a shirt of mine any other color but that。〃 The effect on life； health； and happiness was visible； a single glance revealed rounded shoulders and narrow chests； caused partly by the grinder's position on his horsing； a position very injurious to the organs of breathing； and partly by the two devil's dusts that filled the air； cadaverous faces； the muscles of which betrayed habitual suffering； coughs short and dry； or with a frothy expectoration peculiar to the trade。 In answer to questions； many complained of a fearful tightness across the chest； of inability to eat or to digest。 One said it took him five minutes to get up the factory stairs； and he had to lean against the wall several times。
A razor…grinder of twenty…two； with death in his face； told Henry he had come into that room when he was eleven。 〃It soon takes hold of boys；〃 said he。 〃I've got what I shall never get shut on。〃
Another； who looked ill； but not dying； received Henry's sympathy with a terrible apathy。 〃I'm twenty…eight；〃 said he； 〃and a fork… grinder is an old cock at thirty。 I must look to drop off my perch in a year or two； like the rest。〃
Only one； of all these victims； seemed to trouble his head about whether death and disease could be averted。 This one complained that some employers provided fans to drive the dust from the grinder； but Cheetham would not go to the expense。
The rest that Henry spoke to accepted their fate doggedly。 They were ready to complain； but not to move a finger in self…defense。 Their fathers had been ground out young； and why not they？
Indifferent to life； health； and happiness； they could nevertheless be inflamed about sixpence a week。 In other words； the money…price of their labor was every thing to them； the blood…price nothing。
Henry found this out； and it gave him a glimpse into the mind of Amboyne。
He felt quite confused； and began to waver between hate； contempt； and pity。 Was it really these poor doomed wretches who had robbed him of his livelihood？ Could men so miscalculate the size of things； as to strike because an inoffensive individual was making complete caring…tools all by himself； and yet not strike； nor even stipulate for fans； to carry disease and death away from their own vitals？ Why it seemed wasting hate； to bestow it on these blind idiots。
He went on to the wet…grinders； and he found their trade much healthier than dry…grinding： yet there were drawbacks。 They suffered from the grit whenever a new stone was hung and raced。 They were also subject to a canker of the hands； and to colds； coughs； and inflammations； from perspiration checked by cold draughts and drenched floors。 These floors were often of mud； and so the wet stagnated and chilled their feet； while their bodies were very hot。 Excellent recipe for filling graves。
Here Bayne retired to his books； and Henry proceeded to the saw… grinders； and entered their rooms with no little interest； for they were an envied trade。 They had been for many years governed by Grotait； than whom no man in England saw clearer； though such men as Amboyne saw further。 Grotait； by a system of Machiavellian policy； ingeniously devised and carried out； nobly； basely； craftily； forcibly； benevolently； ruthlessly； whichever way best suited the particular occasion； had built a model Union； and still； with unremitting zeal and vigilance； contrived to keep numbers down and prices upwhich is the great Union problem。
The work was hard； but it was done in a position favorable to the lungs； and the men were healthy； brawny fellows； one or two were of remarkable stature。
Up to this moment Silly Billy had fully justified that title。 He had stuck to Henry's side like a dog； but with no more interest in the inquiry than a calf； indeed； his wandering eye and vacant face had indicated that his scanty wits were wool…gathering miles from the place that contained his body。
But； as soon as he entered the saw…grinders' room； his features lighted up； and his eye kindled。 He now took up a commanding position in the center； and appeared to be listening keenly。 And he had not listened many seconds before he cried out； 〃There's the bad music！ there！ there！〃 And he pointed to a grindstone that was turning and doing its work exactly like the others。 〃Oh； the bad music！〃 cried Billy。 〃It is out of tune。 It says； 'Murder！ murder！ Out of tune！'〃
Henry thought it his duty to inspect the grindstone so vigorously denounced； and； naturally enough； went in front of the grinder。 But Billy pulled him violently to the side。 〃You musn't stand there；〃 said he。 〃That is the way they fly when they break； and kill the poor father； and then the mother lets down her hair； and the boy goes crazed。〃
By this time the men were attracted by the Anomaly's gestures and exclamations； and several left their work； and came round him。 〃What is amiss； Billy？ a flawed stone； eh？ which is it？〃
〃Here！ here！〃 said the boy。 〃This is the wheel of death。 Kill it；