“It’s difficult for them; but no doubt they’ll get to see it,” answered John.

“They must.  That’s the way to success in my opinion.  It’s a very interesting subject—­the most interesting to me—­always was.  The machinery, I mean.  I may go to America, presently.  Of course, they can give us a start and a beating at machinery there.”

“We must remember the driving power,” said Best.

“The driving power can be raised, like everything else.  If we haven’t got enough power, we must increase it.  I’ve thought of that, too, as a matter of fact.”

“You can’t increase what the river will do; but, of course, you can get a stronger steam engine.”

“Not so sure about the river.  There’s a new thing—­American, of course—­called a turbine.  But no hurry for that.  We’ve got all the power we want for the minute.  That’s one virtue of some of the new machinery:  it doesn’t demand so much power in some cases.”

But Best was very sceptical on this point.  They discussed other matters and Raymond detailed his ideas as to the alteration of hours and wages.  For the most part his foreman had no objections to offer, and when he did question the figures, he was overruled.  But he felt constrained to praise.

“It’s wonderful how you’ve gone into it,” he said.  “I never should have thought you’d have had such a head for detail, Mister Raymond.”

“No more should I, John.  I surprised myself.  But when you are working for another person—­that’s one thing; when you are working for yourself—­that’s another thing.  Not much virtue in what I’ve done, as it is for myself in the long run.  When you tell them, explain that I’m not a philanthropist—­only a man of business in future.  But before all things fair and straight.  I mean to be fair to them and to the machinery, too.  And to the machinery I look to make all our fortunes.  I should have done a little more to start with—­for the people I mean; but the death duties are the devil.  In fact, I start crippled by them.  Tell them that and make them understand what they mean on an enterprise of this sort.”

They went through the works together presently and it was clear that the new owner fixed a gulf between the past and the future.  His old easy manner had vanished—­and, while friendly enough, he made it quite clear that a vast alteration had come into his mind and manners.  It seemed incredible that six months before Raymond was chaffing the girls and bringing them fruit.  He called them by their names as of yore; but they knew in a moment he had moved with his fortunes and their own manner instinctively altered.