“That’s the way to get left, if you ask me.”

“I don’t ask you,” answered the master.  “I’m telling you, Raymond; and you ought to remember that I very well know what I’m talking about and you don’t.  You must give me some credit.  To question me is to question our father, for I learned everything from him.”

“But times change.  You don’t want to be left high and dry in the march of progress, my dear chap.”

“No—­you needn’t fear that.  If you’re young, you’re a part of progress; you belong to it.  But you must get a general knowledge of the present situation in our trade before you can do anything rational in the shape of progress.  I’ve been left a very fine business with a very honoured name to keep up, and if I begin trying to run before I can walk, I should very soon fall down.  You must see that.”

Raymond nodded.

“Yes, that’s all right.  I’m a learner and I know you can teach me a lot.”

“If you’d come to me instead of to the mill people.”

“You don’t know their side.”

“Much better than you do.  I’ve talked with our father often and often about it.  He was no tyrant and nobody could ever accuse him of injustice.”

Raymond flashed; but he kept his mouth shut on that theme.  The only bitter quarrels between the brothers had been on the subject of their father, and the younger knew that the ground was dangerous.  At this moment the last thing he desired was any difference with Daniel.

“I’ll keep it all in mind, Dan.  I don’t want to do anything to annoy you, God knows.  Is there any more?  I must go and look after young Estelle.”

“Only one thing; and this is purely personal, and so I hope you’ll excuse me.  I’ve just been seeing Uncle Ernest, and nobody wished us better fortune than he does.”

“He’s a good old boy.  I’ve learned a lot about spinning from him.”

“I know.  But—­look here, Raymond, I do beg of you—­I implore of you not to be too friendly with Sabina Dinnett.  You can’t think how I should hate anything like that.  It isn’t fair—­it isn’t fair to the woman, or to me, or to the family.  You must see yourself that sort of thing isn’t right.  She’s a very good girl—­our champion spinner Best says; and if you go distracting her and taking her out of her station, you are doing her a very cruel turn and upsetting her peace of mind.  And the others will be jealous, of course, and so it will go on.  It isn’t playing the game—­it really isn’t.  That’s all.  I know you’re a sportsman and all that; so I do beg you’ll be a sportsman in business too, and take a proper line and remember your obligations.  And if I’ve said a harsh, or unfair word, I’m sorry for it; but you know I haven’t.”

Seeing that Sabina Dinnett was now in paramount and triumphant possession of Raymond’s mind, he felt thankful that his brother, by running on over this subject and concluding upon the whole question, had saved him the necessity for any direct reply.  Whether he would have lied or no concerning Sabina, Raymond did not stop to consider.  There is little doubt that he would.  But the need was escaped; and so thankful did he feel, that he responded to the admonishment in a tone more complete and with promises more comprehensive than Daniel expected.