“Why, there are very few manual trades don’t leave their mark,” she answered, “and a woman’s lucky to get nothing worse than a scarred hand.”

“Would it come right,” he ventured to ask, “if you gave up spinning?”

“Yes, in no time.  There are worse things happen to you in the mills than that—­and more painful.  Sometimes the wind from the reels numbs your fingers till you can’t feel ’em and they go red, and then blue.  And there’s always grumbling about the temperature, because what suits hemp and flax don’t suit humans.  If some clever man could solve these difficulties, it would be more comfortable for us.  Not that I’m grumbling.  Our mill is about as perfect as any mill can be, and we’ve got the blessing of living in the country, too—­that’s worth a lot.”

“You’re fond of the country.”

“Couldn’t live out of it,” she said.  “Thanks to Mr. Churchouse, I know more about things than some girls.”

“I should think you did.”

“He’s very wise and kind and lends me books.”

“A very nice old bird.  I nearly went to live with him when I came to Bridetown.  Sorry I didn’t, now.”

She smiled and did not pretend to miss the compliment.

“As to the Mill,” he went on; “don’t think I’m the sort of chap that just drifts and is contented to let things be as they were in the time of his father and grandfather.”

“Wouldn’t you?”

“Certainly not.  No doubt it’s safer and easier and the line of least resistance and all that sort of thing.  But when I’ve once mastered the business, you’ll see.  I didn’t want to come in, but now I’m in, I’m going to the roots of it, and I shall have a pretty big say in things, too, later on.”

“Fancy!” said Sabina.

“Oh yes.  You mustn’t suppose my brother and I see alike all round.  We don’t.  He wants to be a copy of my father, and I’ve no ambition to be anything of the kind.  My father wasn’t at all sporting to me, Sabina, and it doesn’t alter the fact because he’s dead.  The first thing is the workers, and whatever I am, I’m clever enough to know that if we don’t do a good many things for the workers pretty soon, they’ll do those things for themselves.  But it will be a great deal more proper and breed a lot more goodwill between labour and capital, if capital takes the first step and improves the conditions and raises the wages all round.  D’you know what I would do if I had my way?  I’d go one better than the Trade Unions!  I’d cut the ground from under their feet!  I’d say to Capital ’instead of whining about the Trades Unions, get to work and make them needless.’”