’Yo’ve called me impudent, and a liar, and a mischief-maker, and yo’ might ha’ said wi’ some truth, as I were now and then given to drink.  An’ I ha’ called you a tyrant, an’ an oud bull-dog, and a hard, cruel master; that’s where it stands.  But for th’ childer.  Measter, do yo’ think we can e’er get on together?’

‘Well!’ said Mr. Thornton, half-laughing, ’it was not my proposal that we should go together.  But there’s one comfort, on your own showing.  We neither of us can think much worse of the other than we do now.’

‘That’s true,’ said Higgins, reflectively.  ’I’ve been thinking, ever sin’ I saw you, what a marcy it were yo’ did na take me on, for that I ne’er saw a man whom I could less abide.  But that’s maybe been a hasty judgment; and work’s work to such as me.  So, measter, I’ll come; and what’s more, I thank yo’; and that’s a deal fro’ me,’ said he, more frankly, suddenly turning round and facing Mr. Thornton fully for the first time.

‘And this is a deal from me,’ said Mr. Thornton, giving Higgins’s hand a good grip.  ‘Now mind you come sharp to your time,’ continued he, resuming the master.  ’I’ll have no laggards at my mill.  What fines we have, we keep pretty sharply.  And the first time I catch you making mischief, off you go.  So now you know where you are.’

‘Yo’ spoke of my wisdom this morning.  I reckon I may bring it wi’ me; or would yo’ rayther have me ‘bout my brains?’

’’Bout your brains if you use them for meddling with my business; with your brains if you can keep them to your own.’

‘I shall need a deal o’ brains to settle where my business ends and yo’rs begins.’

’Your business has not begun yet, and mine stands still for me.  So good afternoon.’

Just before Mr. Thornton came up to Mrs. Boucher’s door, Margaret came out of it.  She did not see him; and he followed her for several yards, admiring her light and easy walk, and her tall and graceful figure.  But, suddenly, this simple emotion of pleasure was tainted, poisoned by jealousy.  He wished to overtake her, and speak to her, to see how she would receive him, now she must know he was aware of some other attachment.  He wished too, but of this wish he was rather ashamed, that she should know that he had justified her wisdom in sending Higgins to him to ask for work; and had repented him of his morning’s decision.  He came up to her.  She started.

’Allow me to say, Miss Hale, that you were rather premature in expressing your disappointment.  I have taken Higgins on.’

‘I am glad of it,’ said she, coldly.

’He tells me, he repeated to you, what I said this morning about—­’ Mr. Thornton hesitated.  Margaret took it up: 

’About women not meddling.  You had a perfect right to express your opinion, which was a very correct one, I have no doubt.  But,’ she went on a little more eagerly, ’Higgins did not quite tell you the exact truth.’  The word ‘truth,’ reminded her of her own untruth, and she stopped short, feeling exceedingly uncomfortable.