‘I would do my best,’ said Margaret rather pale.  ’I do not know whether I am brave or not till I am tried; but I am afraid I should be a coward.’

’South country people are often frightened by what our Darkshire men and women only call living and struggling.  But when you’ve been ten years among a people who are always owing their betters a grudge, and only waiting for an opportunity to pay it off, you’ll know whether you are a coward or not, take my word for it.’

Mr. Thornton came that evening to Mr. Hale’s.  He was shown up into the drawing-room, where Mr. Hale was reading aloud to his wife and daughter.

’I am come partly to bring you a note from my mother, and partly to apologise for not keeping to my time yesterday.  The note contains the address you asked for; Dr. Donaldson.’

‘Thank you!’ said Margaret, hastily, holding out her hand to take the note, for she did not wish her mother to hear that they had been making any inquiry about a doctor.  She was pleased that Mr. Thornton seemed immediately to understand her feeling; he gave her the note without another word of explanation.  Mr. Hale began to talk about the strike.  Mr. Thornton’s face assumed a likeness to his mother’s worst expression, which immediately repelled the watching Margaret.

’Yes; the fools will have a strike.  Let them.  It suits us well enough.  But we gave them a chance.  They think trade is flourishing as it was last year.  We see the storm on the horizon and draw in our sails.  But because we don’t explain our reasons, they won’t believe we’re acting reasonably.  We must give them line and letter for the way we choose to spend or save our money.  Henderson tried a dodge with his men, out at Ashley, and failed.  He rather wanted a strike; it would have suited his book well enough.  So when the men came to ask for the five per cent. they are claiming, he told ’em he’d think about it, and give them his answer on the pay day; knowing all the while what his answer would be, of course, but thinking he’d strengthen their conceit of their own way.  However, they were too deep for him, and heard something about the bad prospects of trade.  So in they came on the Friday, and drew back their claim, and now he’s obliged to go on working.  But we Milton masters have to-day sent in our decision.  We won’t advance a penny.  We tell them we may have to lower wages; but can’t afford to raise.  So here we stand, waiting for their next attack.’

‘And what will that be?’ asked Mr. Hale.

’I conjecture, a simultaneous strike.  You will see Milton without smoke in a few days, I imagine, Miss Hale.’

‘But why,’ asked she, ’could you not explain what good reason you have for expecting a bad trade?  I don’t know whether I use the right words, but you will understand what I mean.’

’Do you give your servants reasons for your expenditure, or your economy in the use of your own money?  We, the owners of capital, have a right to choose what we will do with it.’