Nicholas West was utterly wicked in his youth and committed such crimes that he was driven from college after burning his master’s dwelling-house.  Yet light dawned for this young man and he ended his days as Bishop of Ely.  Titus Vespasianus emulated Nero in his early rascalities; but having donned the imperial purple, he cast away his evil companions and was accounted good as well as great.  Henry V. of England was another such man, who reformed himself to admiration.  Augustine began badly, and declared as a jest that he would rather have his lust satisfied than extinguished.  Yet this man ended as a Saint of Christ.  I could give you many other examples, Levi.”

“Then we’ll hope for the best,” said John.

But Mr. Baggs only sneered.

“We hear of the converted sinners,” he said; “but we don’t hear of the victims that suffered their wickedness before they turned into saints.  Let Raymond Ironsyde be twenty saints rolled into one, that won’t make Sabina Dinnett an honest woman, or her child a lawful child.”

“Never jump to conclusions,” advised Ernest.  “Even that may come right.  Nothing is impossible.”

“That’s a great thought—­that nothing’s impossible,” declared Mr. Best.

They argued, each according to his character and bent of mind, and, while the meliorists cheered each other, Mr. Baggs laughed at them and held their aspirations vain.

CHAPTER XXVII

THE MASTER OF THE MILL

Raymond Ironsyde came to Bridetown.  He rode in from Bridport, and met John Best by appointment early on a March morning.

With the words of Ernest Churchouse still in his ears, the foreman felt profound interest to learn what might be learned considering the changes in his master’s character.

He found a new Raymond, yet as the older writing of a parchment palimpsest will sometimes make itself apparent behind the new, glimpses of his earlier self did not lack.  The things many remembered and hoped that Ironsyde would remember were not forgotten by him.  But instead of the old, vague generalities and misty assurance of goodwill, he now declared definite plans based on knowledge.  He came armed with figures and facts, and his method of expression had changed from ideas to intentions.  His very manner chimed with his new power.  He was decisive, and quite devoid of sentimentality.  He feared none, but his attitude to all had changed.

They spoke in Mr. Best’s office and he marked how the works came first in Raymond’s regard.

“I’ve been putting in a lot of time on the machine question,” he said.  “As you know, that always interested me most before I thought I should have much say in the matter.  Well, there’s no manner of doubt we’re badly behind the times.  You can’t deny it, John.  You know better than anybody what we want, and it must be your work to go on with what you began to do for my brother.  I don’t want to rush at changes and then find I’ve wasted capital without fair results; but it’s clear to me that a good many of our earlier operations are not done as well and swiftly as they might be.”