“About it.  He is a very independent fellow, and he knows no other way of talking.  But father found it worth his while to put up with his free speech.  Jonathan has a knowledge of manufactures and markets which enables him to protect our interests, and entitles him to speak his mind in his own way.”

“I’m glad the same rule does not go in my kitchen.  I have a first-class cook, but if she asked me for a holiday and I gave her two days and she said nothing but, ‘That will do,’ I would tell her to her face I was giving her something out of my comfort and my pocket, and not something that would only ‘do’ in the place of what she wanted.  I would show her my side of the question.  I would that.”

“For what reason?”

“I would be doing my duty.”

“Well, mother, you could not match her and the bits of radicalism she would give you.  Keep the peace, mother; you have not her weapons in your armory.”

“I am just talking to relieve myself, John.  I know better than to fratch with anyone—­at least I think I do.”

“Just before I went away, mother, Jonathan came to me and said, ’Sir, I hev confidence in human nature, generally speaking, but there’s tricks and there’s turns, and if I was you I would run no risks with them Manchester Sulbys’.  Then he put the Sulby case before me, and if I had not taken his advice, I would have lost three hundred pounds.  It is Jonathan’s way to love God and suspect his neighbor.”

“He will find it hard to do the two things at the same time, John.”

“I do not understand how John works the problem, mother, but he does it at least to his own satisfaction.  He has told us often in the men’s weekly meeting that he is ’safe religiously, and that all his eternal interests are settled,’ but I notice that he trusts no man until he has proved him honest.”

“I don’t believe in such Christians, John, and I hope there are not very many of the same make.”

“Indeed, mother, this union of a religious profession with a sharp worldly spirit is the common character among our spinners.  Jonathan has four sons, and he has brought every one of them up in the same way.”

“One of the four got married last week—­married a girl who will have a factory and four hundred looms for her fortune—­old Aker’s granddaughter, you know.”

“Yes, I know.  Jonathan told me about it.  He looked on the girl as a good investment for his family, and discussed her prospects just as he would have discussed discounts or the money market.”

Then John went to look after the condition of the cattle and horses on the home farm.  He found all in good order, told the farmer he had done well, and made him happy with a few words of praise and appreciation.  But he said little to Mrs. Hatton on the subject, for his thoughts were all close to the woman he loved.  As they sat at supper he continually wondered about her—­where she was, what she was doing, what company she was with, and even how she was dressed.