“You’ve heard, of course, about the goings on?  Mister Ironsyde don’t marry Sabina, and her mother wants to have the law against him; but though Sabina’s in a sad state and got to be watched, she won’t have the law.  We only hear scraps about it, because Nancy Buckler, her great friend, is under oath of secrecy.  But if he shows his face at Bridetown, it’s very likely he’ll be man-handled.  Then, against that, there’s rumours in the air he’ll make great changes at the Mill, and may put up all our money.  In that case, I don’t think he’d be treated very rough, because, as my Mister Roberts says, ’Self-preservation is the first law of nature,’ and always have been; and if he’s going to better us it will mean a lot.”

“Don’t you be too hopeful, however,” warned Mrs. Northover.  “There’s a deal of difference between holding the reins yourself and saying sharp things against them who are.  He’s hard, and last time he was in this house but one, he got as drunk as a lord and Legg helped him to bed.  And he quarrelled very sharp with Mister Gurd for giving him good advice; and Richard says the young man is iron painted to look like wood.  And he’s rarely mistook.”

“But he always did tell us we never got enough money for our work,” argued Sarah.  “And if anything comes of it and Nicholas and me earn five bob more a week between us, it means marriage.  So I’m in a twitter.”

“What does John Best say?”

“Nought.  We can’t get a word out of him.  All we know is we’re cruel busy and orders flow in like a river.  But that was poor Mister Daniel’s work, no doubt.”

“Marriage is in the air, seemingly,” reflected Nelly.  “It mightn’t be altogether a bad thing if you and me went to the altar together, Sarah.  ’Twas always understood you’d be married from ‘The Seven Stars,’ and the sight of a young bride and bridegroom would soften the ceremony a bit and distract the eye from me and Richard.”

“Good Lord!” answered the girl.  “There won’t be no eyes for small folks like us on the day you take Mister Gurd.  ’Twould be one expense without a doubt; but I’m certain positive he wouldn’t like for us little people to be mixed up with it.  ’Twould lessen the blaze from his point of view, and a man such as him wouldn’t approve of that.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” admitted her aunt, with a massive sigh.  “He’s a masterful piece, and the affair will be carried out as he wills.”

“I can’t see you away from ‘The Seven Stars,’ somehow, Aunt Nelly.”

“That’s what everybody says.  More can’t I see myself away for that matter.  But Richard said ‘The Tiger’ would swallow ‘The Seven Stars,’ and I know what he meant now.”

CHAPTER XXV

THE WOMAN’S DARKNESS