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〃What spirits！〃 said a young lady。
〃Yes；〃 said another； 〃but she was as dull as the grave last time I met her。〃
So ended that evening； with its little ups and downs。
Soon after this； Henry called on Miss Carden； and spent a heavenly hour with her。 He told her his plans for getting on in the world； and she listened with a demure complacency； that seemed to imply she acknowledged a personal interest in his success。 She told him she had always ADMIRED his independence in declining his uncle's offer； and now she was beginning to APPROVE it： 〃It becomes a man；〃 said she。
From the future they went to the past； and she reminded him of the snow…storm and the scene in the church； and； in speaking of it； her eye deepened in color； her voice was low and soft； and she was all tenderness。
If love was not directly spoken； it was constantly implied； and； in fact； that is how true love generally speaks。 The eternal 〃Je vous aime〃 of the French novelist is false to nature； let me tell you。
〃And； when I come back from London； I hope your dear mother will give me opportunities of knowing her better。〃
〃She will be delighted； but； going to London！〃
〃Oh； we spend six weeks in London every year； and this is our time。 I was always glad to go； beforeLondon is very gay now you know but I am not glad now。〃
〃No more am I； I can assure you。 I am very sorry。〃
〃Six weeks will soon pass。〃
〃Six weeks of pain is a good long time。 You are the sunshine of my life。 And you are going to shine on others； and leave me dark and solitary。〃
〃But how do you know I shall shine on others？ Perhaps I shall be duller than you will； and think all the more of Hillsborough； for being in London。〃
The melting tone in which this was said； and the coy and tender side…glance that accompanied it； were balm of Gilead to the lover。
He took comfort； and asked her； cheerfully； if he might write to her。
She hesitated a single moment； and then said 〃Yes。〃
She added； however； after a pause； 〃But you can't； for you don't know my address。〃
〃But you will tell me。〃
〃Never！ never！ Fifty…eight Clarges Street。〃
〃When do you go？〃
〃The day after to…morrow： at twelve o'clock。〃
〃May I see you off at the train？〃
She hesitated。 〃Ifyoulike；〃 said she； slowly： 〃but I think you had better not。〃
〃Oh； let me see the last of you。〃
〃Use your own judgment； dear。〃
The monosyllable slipped out； unintentionally： she was thinking of something else。 Yet； as soon as she had uttered it； she said 〃Oh！〃 and blushed all； over。 〃I forgot I was not speaking to a lady；〃 said she； innocently： then； right archly； 〃please forgive me。〃
He caught her hand； and kissed it devotedly。
Then she quivered all over。 〃You mustn't；〃 said she with the gentlest possible tone of reproach。 〃Oh dear； I am so sorry I am going。〃 And she turned her sweet eyes on him； with tears in them。
Then a visitor was announced； and they parted。
He was deep in love。 He was also； by nature； rather obstinate。 Although she had said she thought it would be better for him not to see her off； yet he would go to the station； and see the last of her。
He came straight from the station to his mother。 She was upstairs。 He threw himself into a chair； and there she found him； looking ghastly。
〃Oh； mother！ what shall I do？〃
〃What is the matter； love？〃
〃She is false； she is false。 She has gone up to London with that Coventry。〃
APPENDIX。
EXTRACT FROM HENRY LITTLE'S REPORT。
The File…cutters。
〃This is the largest trade； containing about three thousand men； and several hundred women and boys。 Their diseases and deaths arise from poisoning by lead。 The file rests on a bed of lead during the process of cutting； which might more correctly be called stamping； and； as the stamping…chisel can only be guided to the required nicety by the finger…nail； the lead is constantly handled and fingered； and enters the system through the pores。
〃Besides this； fine dust of lead is set in motion by the blows that drive the cutting…chisel； and the insidious poison settles on the hair and the face； and is believed to go direct to the lungs； some of it。
〃The file…cutter never lives the span of life allotted to man。 After many small warnings his thumb weakens。 He neglects that； and he gets touches of paralysis in the thumb； the arm； and the nerves of the stomach； can't digest； can't sweat； at last； can't work； goes to the hospital： there they galvanize him； which does him no harm； and boil him； which does him a deal of good。 He comes back to work； resumes his dirty habits； takes in fresh doses of lead； turns dirty white or sallow； gets a blue line round his teeth； a dropped wrist； and to the hospital again or on to the file…cutter's box； and so he goes miserably on and off； till he drops into a premature grave； with as much lead in his body as would lap a hundredweight of tea。〃
THE REMEDIES。
A。 What the masters might do。
〃1。 Provide every forge with two small fires； eighteen inches from the ground。 This would warm the lower limbs of the smiths。 At present their bodies suffer by uneven temperature； they perspire down to the waist； and then freeze to the toe。
〃2。 For the wet…grinders they might supply fires in every wheel； abolish mud floors； and pave with a proper fall and drain。
〃To prevent the breaking of heavy grinding…stones； fit them with the large strong circular steel plateof which I subjoin a drawing instead of with wedges or insufficient plates。 They might have an eye to life； as well as capital； in buying heavy grindstones。 I have traced the death of one grinder to the master's avarice： he went to the quarry and bought a stone for thirty…five shillings the quarry…master had set aside as imperfect； its price would have been sixty shillings if it had been fit to trust a man's life to。 This master goes to church twice a Sunday； and is much respected by his own sort： yet he committed a murder for twenty…five shillings。 Being Hillsborough； let us hope it was a murderer he murdered。
〃For the dry…grinders they might all supply fans and boxes。 Some do； and the good effect is very remarkable。 Moreover the present fans and boxes could be much improved。
〃One tradethe steel…fork grindersis considerably worse than the rest； and although the fan does much for it； I'm told it must still remain an unhealthy trade。 If so； and Dr。 Amboyne is right about Life； Labor； and Capital； let the masters co…operate with the Legislature； and extinguish the handicraft。
〃For the file…cutters； the masters might
1st。 Try a substitute for lead。 It is all very well to say a file must rest on lead to be cut。 Who has ever employed brains on that question？ Who has tried iron； wood； and gutta…percha in layers？ Who has ever tried any thing； least of all the thing called Thought？
〃2d。 If lead is the only bedwhich I doubt； and the lead must be barewhich I dispute； then the master ought to supply every gang of file…cutters with hookstaps； and basins and soap； in some place adjoining their work…rooms。 Lead is a subtle； but not a swift； poison； and soap and water every two hours is an antidote。
〃3d。 They ought to forbid the introduction of fo