Mr. Best had a simple formula.

“The successful spinner,” he often remarked, “is the man who can turn out the best yarn from a given sample of the raw.  Hand identical stuff to ten manufacturers and you’ll soon see where the best yarn comes from.”

He knew of better yarns than came from the Ironsyde mill, and regretted the fact.  That a time might arrive when Raymond would see with him seemed exceedingly improbable; yet he felt the dim possibility by occasional flashes in the young man, and it was a quality of Mr. Best’s mind to be hopeful and credit other men with his own aspirations, if any excuse existed for so doing.

CHAPTER VI

‘The seven stars’

On a Saturday in August, Sarah Northover, one of those who minded the ‘spreader’ at Bridetown Mill, came to see her aunt—­the mistress of ’The Seven Stars,’ in Barrack Street, Bridport.

She had walked three miles through the hot and dusty lanes and found the shady streets of Bridport cool by comparison, but there was work for her at ‘The Seven Stars,’ and Mrs. Northover proved very busy.  A holiday party of five-and-twenty guests was arriving at five o’clock for tea, and Sarah, perceiving that her own tea would be a matter for the future, lent her aunt a hand.

Her tea gardens and pleasure grounds were the pride of Nelly Northover’s heart.  Three quarters of an acre extended here behind the inn, and she had erected swings for the children and laid a croquet lawn for those who enjoyed that pastime.  Lawn tennis she would not permit, out of respect for her herbaceous border which surrounded the place of entertainment.  At one corner was a large summer-house in which her famous teas were generally taken.  The charge was one shilling, and being of generous disposition, Mrs. Northover provided for that figure a handsome meal.

She was a large, high-bosomed woman, powerfully built, and inclined to stoutness.  Her complexion was sanguine, and her prominent eyes were very blue.  Of a fair-minded and honest spirit, she suffered from an excitable temper and rather sharp tongue.  But her moods were understood by her staff, and if her emotional quality did injustice, an innate sense of what was reasonable ultimately righted the wrong.

Sarah helped Job Legg and others to prepare for the coming party, while Mrs. Northover roamed the herbaceous border and cut flowers to decorate the table.  While she pursued this work there bustled in Richard Gurd from ‘The Tiger.’  He was in his shirt-sleeves and evidently pushed for time.

“Wonders never cease,” said Nelly, smiling upon him.  “It’s a month of Sundays since you was in my gardens.  I’ll lay you’ve come for some flowers for your dining table.”

Reciprocity was practised between these best of friends, and while Mr. Gurd often sent customers to Mrs. Northover, since tea parties were not a branch of business he cared about, she returned his good service with gifts from the herbaceous border and free permission to use her spacious inn yard and stables.