“Why, they share the loss between them.  The stone costs the master three pounds; and hanging it costs the workman only four or five shillings.  Where’s the grievance?”

“Hanging and racing a stone shortens the grinder’s life; fills his lungs with grit.  Is the workman to give Life and Labor for a forenoon, and is Capital to contribute nothing?  Is that your view of Life, Labor, and Capital, young man?”

Henry was staggered a moment.  “That is smart,” said he.  “But a rule of trade is a rule, till it is altered by consent of the parties that made it.  Now, right or wrong, it is the rule of trade here that the small grinders find their own stones, and pay for power; but the saw-grinders are better off, for they have not to find stones, nor power, and their only drawback is that they must hang and race a new stone, which costs the master sixty shillings.  Cheetham is smarting under your rules, and you can’t expect him to go against any rule, that saves him a shilling.”

“What does the grinder think?”

“You might as well ask what the grindstone thinks.”

“Well, what does the grinder say, then?”

“Says he’d rather run the stone out, than lose a forenoon.”

“Well, sir, it is his business.”

“It may be a man’s business to hang himself; but it is the bystanders’ to hinder him.”

“You mistake me.  I mean that the grinder is the only man who knows whether a stone is safe.”

“Well, but this grinder does not pretend his stone is safe.  All he says is, safe or not, he’ll run it out.  So now the question is, will you pay four shillings from your box for this blockhead’s loss of time in hanging and racing a new stone?”

All the four secretaries opened their eyes with surprise at this.  But Grotait merely said he had no authority to do that; the funds of the Union were set apart for specified purposes.

“Very likely,” said Henry, getting warm:  “but, when there’s life to be taken, your Union can find money irregularly; so why grudge it, when there’s life to be saved perhaps, and ten times cheaper than you pay for blood?”

“Young man,” said Grotait, severely, “did you come here to insult us with these worn-out slanders?”

“No, but I came to see whether you secretaries, who can find pounds to assassinate men, and blow up women and children with gunpowder, can find shillings to secure the life of one of your own members; he risks it every time he mounts his horsing.”

“Well, sir, the application is without precedent, and I must decline it; but this I beg to do as courteously, as the application has been made uncourteously.”

“Oh, it is easy to be polite, when you’ve got no heart.”

“You are the first ever brought that charge against me.”

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” said Potter, warmly.  “No heart!  Mr. Grotait is known for a good husband, a tender father, and the truest friend in Hillsborough.”