’You are quite right.  I have some independent property, but my intention in settling in Milton was to become a private tutor.’

‘To teach folk.  Well!  I reckon they pay yo’ for teaching them, dunnot they?’

‘Yes,’ replied Mr. Hale, smiling.  ‘I teach in order to get paid.’

‘And them that pays yo’, dun they tell yo’ whatten to do, or whatten not to do wi’ the money they gives you in just payment for your pains—­in fair exchange like?’

‘No; to be sure not!’

‘They dunnot say, “Yo’ may have a brother, or a friend as dear as a brother, who wants this here brass for a purpose both yo’ and he think right; but yo’ mun promise not give it to him.  Yo’ may see a good use, as yo’ think, to put yo’r money to; but we don’t think it good, and so if yo’ spend it a-thatens we’ll just leave off dealing with yo’.”  They dunnot say that, dun they?’

‘No:  to be sure not!’

‘Would yo’ stand it if they did?’

’It would be some very hard pressure that would make me even think of submitting to such dictation.’

’There’s not the pressure on all the broad earth that would make me, said Nicholas Higgins.  ’Now yo’ve got it.  Yo’ve hit the bull’s eye.  Hamper’s—­that’s where I worked—­makes their men pledge ‘emselves they’ll not give a penny to help th’ Union or keep turnouts fro’ clemming.  They may pledge and make pledge,’ continued he, scornfully; ’they nobbut make liars and hypocrites.  And that’s a less sin, to my mind, to making men’s hearts so hard that they’ll not do a kindness to them as needs it, or help on the right and just cause, though it goes again the strong hand.  But I’ll ne’er forswear mysel’ for a’ the work the king could gi’e me.  I’m a member o’ the Union; and I think it’s the only thing to do the workman any good.  And I’ve been a turn-out, and known what it were to clem; so if I get a shilling, sixpence shall go to them if they axe it from me.  Consequence is, I dunnot see where I’m to get a shilling.’

’Is that rule about not contributing to the Union in force at all the mills?’ asked Margaret.

’I cannot say.  It’s a new regulation at ourn; and I reckon they’ll find that they cannot stick to it.  But it’s in force now.  By-and-by they’ll find out, tyrants makes liars.’

There was a little pause.  Margaret was hesitating whether she should say what was in her mind; she was unwilling to irritate one who was already gloomy and despondent enough.  At last out it came.  But in her soft tones, and with her reluctant manner, showing that she was unwilling to say anything unpleasant, it did not seem to annoy Higgins, only to perplex him.

’Do you remember poor Boucher saying that the Union was a tyrant?  I think he said it was the worst tyrant of all.  And I remember at the time I agreed with him.’

It was a long while before he spoke.  He was resting his head on his two hands, and looking down into the fire, so she could not read the expression on his face.