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put yourself in his place-第34章

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e seen  Billy; go and look at thy shilling; in the yard; and see which is brightest; it or the moon。  Is he gone?  I've seen three men die within a few yards of me。  One; the stone flew in two pieces; a fragment; weighing about four hundredweight I should say; struck him on the breast; and killed him on place; he never spoke。 I've forgotten his very name。  Another; the stone went clean out of window; but it kicked the grinder backward among the machinery; and his head was crushed like an eggshell。  But the worst of all was poor Billy's father。  He had been warned against his stone; but he said he would run it out。  Well; his little boy; that is Billy; had just brought him in his tea; and was standing beside him; when the stone went like a pistol…shot; and snapped the horsing chains like a thread; a piece struck the wall; and did no harm; only made a hole; but the bigger half went clean up to the ceiling; and then fell plump down again; the grinder he was knocked stupid like; and had fallen forward on his broken horsing; the grindstone fell right on him; and; ahI saw the son covered with the father's blood。〃

He shuddered visibly; at the recollection。  〃Ay;〃 said he; 〃the man a corpse; and the lad an idiot。  One faulty stone did that; within four yards of me; in a moment of time。〃

〃Good heavens!〃

〃I was grinding at the next stone but one。  He was taken; and I was left。  It might just as well have been the other way。  No saw… grinder can make sure; when he gets on his horsing; that he will come off it alive。〃

The visitor left Henry to think of this while he drew Bayne aside; and spoke on another matter。

Afterward; all three left the works together; and Henry was so pleased with his new ally; that he told him; at the gate; he should be glad if he might be allowed to make his acquaintance。

〃By all means;〃 said the other。  〃I am quite at your service。  You will find me at the 'Cutlers' Arms。'〃

〃Who shall I ask for?〃

〃George Grotait。〃

〃Grotait。  The devil!〃

〃No; no。  Not quite so bad as that。〃

〃What;〃 said Henry; roughly; 〃do you mean to say you are old Smitem?〃

〃That is a name FOOLS give me。〃

Henry had no reply ready; and so the sturdy old secretary got the better of him again; and went his way unruffled。

Henry scolded Bayne for not telling him。  Bayne excused himself on the ground that he thought everybody knew Grotait。  He added; 〃He knew you; and told me if he could serve you; without being unjust to the Trades; I was to tell him。〃

Henry replied to this only by a snort of defiance; and bade him good…night。

The next day and the next were spent in other works; and then Henry; having no more facts to learn; fell into deep dejection again。  He saw he must either cheat Dr。 Amboyne; by shamming work; or else must leave Hillsborough。

He had the honesty to go to the doctor and say that he had mastered the whole matter; and didn't see his way to take any more wages from a friend。

〃You mean you have mastered the broad facts。〃

〃I have; sir; and they are beyond belief; especially the file… cutters。  They are the most numerous of all the Trades; and die like sheep。  If your notion about Life; Labor; and Capital is right; the Trades are upside down; for the deadliest are the worst paid。〃

〃And are you prepared with the remedies?〃

〃Not I。〃

〃Yet you fancy you are at the end of your work。  Why; you are only beginning。  Now comes the real brain work; invention。  Now are craniology and you upon your trial。  But you are quite right about weekly salary。  Invention must not be so degraded; but paid by the piece。  Life; Labor; and Capital are upside down in this place; are they?  Then you shall be the man to set them on their legs。〃

Henry shook his head。  〃Never; sir; unless I could give the masters bowels; and the men brains。〃

〃Well; and why not?  To invention all things are possible。  You carry a note…book?〃

〃Yes; sir。〃

〃Got it in your pocket?〃

〃No; on my shoulders。〃

〃Haw! haw! haw!  Then write this down in it'THERE'S A KEY TO EVERY LOCK'〃

〃It's down; sir。〃

〃Now you must go out trout…fishing with Billy。  He will take you on the hills; where the air is pure; and favorable to invention。  You will divert your mind from all external subjects; especially Billy; who is a fool; and his trout…killing inhumane; and I a merciless glutton for eating them; and you will think; and think; and think; and forge the required key to this lock with three wardsLife; Labor; Capital。  And; when forged; the Philanthropic Society shall pay you a good price for it。  Meantime; don't dream of leaving Hillsborough; or I shall give you a stirrup…cup that will waft you much further than London; for it shall be 'of prussic acid all composed;' or 'juice of cursed Hebenon in a vial。'  Come; away with you。〃

〃Good…by; doctor。  God bless you。  You have found 'the key to my heart' somehow。  I come to you a miserable broken…hearted dog; and you put life and hope into me directly。  I declare talking with you it's like drinking sunshine。  I'll try all I know to please you。〃

He went down the street with his old elastic tread; and muttered to himself; 〃There's no lock without a key。〃

Next day he went out on the hills with Billy; and saw him tickle trout; and catch them under stones; and do many strange things; and all the time he thought of Grace Carden; and bemoaned his sad fate。 He could not command his mind; and direct it to philanthropy。  His heart would not let him; and his personal wrongs were too recent。 After a short struggle; these got so thoroughly the better; that he found himself stealing the doctor's words for his own purposes。  〃No lock without a key。〃  Then there must be some way of outwitting these cursed Trades; and so making money enough to set up as a master; and then court her; and woo her; and marry her。  Heaven seemed to open on him at this prospect; and he fell into a deep reverie。  By…and…by; as he pondered; it seemed to him as if the shadow of a coming idea was projected in advance of the idea itself。 He knew somehow there was a way to baffle his enemies; and resume his business; and yet he could not see the way; but still he was absolutely conscious it existed。

This conviction took such hold of him; that he became restless; and asked Billy to leave off and come away。  The youth consented; and they returned to the town with a basket of trout。  Henry sent Billy on to the doctor with half of them; and took the other half to his friend Bayne。

On what a trifle things turn。  Bayne was very much pleased with his little attention; and asked him to take them to his lodging; and beg the landlady to cook them for dinner。  〃Tell her you dine with me; old fellow。〃

〃Oh; hang it; I wasn't fishing for a dinner。〃

〃As if I didn't know that。  But you must。  Then I shall enjoy your company in peace。  I shall be there in an hour。〃

And so he was: but in that one hour events had occurred that I shall leave Mr。 Bayne to relate。

During dinner neither of the friends wasted much time in talk; but after dinner; Bayne produced a bottle of port; notwithstanding Henry's remonstrances at being treated like a stranger; and it soon became apparent that the host himself was not in the habit
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