As soon as he had obtained this information, Bayne bustled off; but Mary
Anne detained Henry Little, to moralize.

Said she, “This rattening for trade contributions is the result of bad and partial laws.  If A contracts with B, and breaks his contract, B has no need to ratten A:  he can sue him.  But if A, being a workman, contracts with B and all the other letters, and breaks his contract, B and all the other letters have no legal remedy.  This bad and partial law, occurring in a country that has tasted impartial laws, revolts common sense and the consciences of men.  Whenever this sort of thing occurs in any civilized country, up starts that pioneer judge we call Judge Lynch; in other words, private men combine, and make their own laws, to cure the folly of legislatures.  And, mark me, if these irregular laws are unjust, they fail; if they are just, they stand.  Rattening could never have stood its ground so many years in Hillsborough, if it had not been just, and necessary to the place, under the partial and iniquitous laws of Great Britain.”

“And pray,” inquired Little, “where is the justice of taking a master’s gear because his paid workman is in your debt?”

“And where is the justice of taking a lodger’s goods in execution for the house-tenant’s debt, which debt the said lodger is helping the said tenant to pay?  We must do the best we can.  No master is rattened for a workman’s fault without several warnings.  But the masters will never co-operate with justice till their bands and screws go.  That wakes them up directly.”

“Well, Mr. Grotait, I never knew you worsted in an argument:  and this nut is too hard for my teeth, so I’m off to my work.  Ratten me now and then for your own people’s fault, if you are quite sure justice and public opinion demand it; but no more gunpowder, please.”

“Heaven forbid, Mr. Little.  Gunpowder!  I abhor it.”

CHAPTER XXV.

There came a delightful letter from Grace Carden, announcing her return on a certain evening, and hoping to see Henry next morning.

He called accordingly, and was received with outstretched hands and sparkling eyes, and words that repaid him for her absence.

After the first joyful burst, she inquired tenderly why he was so pale:  had he been ill?

“No.”

“No trouble nor anxiety, dear?”

“A little, at first, till your sweet letters made me happy.  No; I did not even know that I was pale.  Overstudy, I suppose.  Inventing is hard work.”

“What are you inventing?”

“All manner of things.  Machine to forge large axes; another to grind circular saws; a railway clip:  but you don’t care about such things.”

“I beg your pardon, sir.  I care about whatever interests you.”

“Well, these inventions interest me very much.  One way or other, they are roads to fortune; and you know why I desire fortune.”