‘A human right,’ said Margaret, very low.

‘I beg your pardon, I did not hear what you said.’

‘I would rather not repeat it,’ said she; ’it related to a feeling which I do not think you would share.’

‘Won’t you try me?’ pleaded he; his thoughts suddenly bent upon learning what she had said.  She was displeased with his pertinacity, but did not choose to affix too much importance to her words.

’I said you had a human right.  I meant that there seemed no reason but religious ones, why you should not do what you like with your own.

’I know we differ in our religious opinions; but don’t you give me credit for having some, though not the same as yours?’

He was speaking in a subdued voice, as if to her alone.  She did not wish to be so exclusively addressed.  She replied out in her usual tone: 

’I do not think that I have any occasion to consider your special religious opinions in the affair.  All I meant to say is, that there is no human law to prevent the employers from utterly wasting or throwing away all their money, if they choose; but that there are passages in the Bible which would rather imply—­to me at least—­that they neglected their duty as stewards if they did so.  However I know so little about strikes, and rate of wages, and capital, and labour, that I had better not talk to a political economist like you.’

‘Nay, the more reason,’ said he, eagerly.  ’I shall only be too glad to explain to you all that may seem anomalous or mysterious to a stranger; especially at a time like this, when our doings are sure to be canvassed by every scribbler who can hold a pen.’

‘Thank you,’ she answered, coldly.  ’Of course, I shall apply to my father in the first instance for any information he can give me, if I get puzzled with living here amongst this strange society.’

‘You think it strange.  Why?’

’I don’t know—­I suppose because, on the very face of it, I see two classes dependent on each other in every possible way, yet each evidently regarding the interests of the other as opposed to their own; I never lived in a place before where there were two sets of people always running each other down.’

’Who have you heard running the masters down?  I don’t ask who you have heard abusing the men; for I see you persist in misunderstanding what I said the other day.  But who have you heard abusing the masters?’

Margaret reddened; then smiled as she said,

’I am not fond of being catechised.  I refuse to answer your question.  Besides, it has nothing to do with the fact.  You must take my word for it, that I have heard some people, or, it may be, only someone of the workpeople, speak as though it were the interest of the employers to keep them from acquiring money—­that it would make them too independent if they had a sum in the savings’ bank.’

‘I dare say it was that man Higgins who told you all this,’ said Mrs Hale.  Mr. Thornton did not appear to hear what Margaret evidently did not wish him to know.  But he caught it, nevertheless.