'I assure you, I heard it spoken of with great
interest--curiosity as to its result, perhaps I should rather
say. I heard your name frequently mentioned during my short stay
in the neighbourhood.' Then they lost some words; and when next
they could hear Mr. Thornton was speaking.
'I have not the elements for popularity--if they spoke of me in
that way, they were mistaken. I fall slowly into new projects;
and I find it difficult to let myself be known, even by those
whom I desire to know, and with whom I would fain have no
reserve. Yet, even with all these drawbacks, I felt that I was on
the right path, and that, starting from a kind of friendship with
one, I was becoming acquainted with many. The advantages were
mutual: we were both unconsciously and consciously teaching each
other.' 'You say "were." I trust you are intending to pursue the same
course?' 'I must stop Colthurst,' said Henry Lennox, hastily. And by an
abrupt, yet apropos question, he turned the current of the
conversation, so as not to give Mr. Thornton the mortification of
acknowledging his want of success and consequent change of
position. But as soon as the newly-started subject had come to a
close, Mr. Thornton resumed the conversation just where it had
been interrupted, and gave Mr. Colthurst the reply to his
inquiry.
'I have been unsuccessful in business, and have had to give up my
position as a master. I am on the look out for a situation in
Milton, where I may meet with employment under some one who will
be willing to let me go along my own way in such matters as
these. I can depend upon myself for having no go-ahead theories
that I would rashly bring into practice. My only wish is to have
the opportunity of cultivating some intercourse with the hands
beyond the mere "cash nexus." But it might be the point
Archimedes sought from which to move the earth, to judge from the
importance attached to it by some of our manufacturers, who shake
their heads and look grave as soon as I name the one or two
experiments that I should like to try.' 'You call them "experiments" I notice,' said Mr. Colthurst, with
a delicate increase of respect in his manner.
'Because I believe them to be such. I am not sure of the
consequences that may result from them. But I am sure they ought
to be tried. I have arrived at the conviction that no mere
institutions, however wise, and however much thought may have
been required to organise and arrange them, can attach class to
class as they should be attached, unless the working out of such
institutions bring the individuals of the different classes into
actual personal contact. Such intercourse is the very breath of
life. A working man can hardly be made to feel and know how much
his employer may have laboured in his study at plans for the
benefit of his workpeople. A complete plan emerges like a piece
of machinery, apparently fitted for every emergency. But the
hands accept it as they do machinery, without understanding the
intense mental labour and forethought required to bring it to
such perfection. But I would take an idea, the working out of
which would necessitate personal intercourse; it might not go
well at first, but at every hitch interest would be felt by an
increasing number of men, and at last its success in working come
to be desired by all, as all had borne a part in the formation of
the plan; and even then I am sure that it would lose its
vitality, cease to be living, as soon as it was no longer carried
on by that sort of common interest which invariably makes people
find means and ways of seeing each other, and becoming acquainted
with each others' characters and persons, and even tricks of
temper and modes of speech. We should understand each other
better, and I'll venture to say we should like each other more.' 'And you think they may prevent the recurrence of strikes?' 'Not at all. My utmost expectation only goes so far as this--that
they may render strikes not the bitter, venomous sources of
hatred they have hitherto been. A more hopeful man might imagine
that a closer and more genial intercourse between classes might
do away with strikes. But I am not a hopeful man.' Suddenly, as if a new idea had struck him, he crossed over to
where Margaret was sitting, and began, without preface, as if he
knew she had been listening to all that had passed: 'Miss Hale, I had a round-robin from some of my men--I suspect in
Higgins' handwriting--stating their wish to work for me, if ever
I was in a position to employ men again on my own behalf. That
was good, wasn't it?' 'Yes. Just right. I am glad of it,' said Margaret, looking up
straight into his face with her speaking eyes, and then dropping
them under his eloquent glance. He gazed back at her for a
minute, as if he did not know exactly what he was about. Then
sighed; and saying, 'I knew you would like it,' he turned away,
and never spoke to her again until he bid her a formal 'good
night.' As Mr. Lennox took his departure, Margaret said, with a blush
that she could not repress, and with some hesitation, 'Can I speak to you to-morrow? I want your help
about--something.' 'Certainly. I will come at whatever time you name. You cannot
give me a greater pleasure than by making me of any use. At
eleven? Very well.' His eye brightened with exultation. How she was learning to
depend upon him! It seemed as if any day now might give him the
certainty, without having which he had determined never to offer
to her again.