'On earth is known to none

The smile that is not sister to a tear.'

ELLIOTT.

Margaret and her father walked home. The night was fine, the

streets clean, and with her pretty white silk, like Leezie

Lindsay's gown o' green satin, in the ballad, 'kilted up to her

knee,' she was off with her father--ready to dance along with the

excitement of the cool, fresh night air.

'I rather think Thornton is not quite easy in his mind about this

strike. He seemed very anxious to-night.'

'I should wonder if he were not. But he spoke with his usual

coolness to the others, when they suggested different things,

just before we came away.'

'So he did after dinner as well. It would take a good deal to

stir him from his cool manner of speaking; but his face strikes

me as anxious.'

'I should be, if I were he. He must know of the growing anger and

hardly smothered hatred of his workpeople, who all look upon him

as what the Bible calls a "hard man,"--not so much unjust as

unfeeling; clear in judgment, standing upon his "rights" as no

human being ought to stand, considering what we and all our petty

rights are in the sight of the Almighty. I am glad you think he

looks anxious. When I remember Boucher's half mad words and ways,

I cannot bear to think how coolly Mr. Thornton spoke.' 'In the first place, I am not so convinced as you are about that

man Boucher's utter distress; for the moment, he was badly off, I

don't doubt. But there is always a mysterious supply of money

from these Unions; and, from what you said, it was evident the

man was of a passionate, demonstrative nature, and gave strong

expression to all he felt.' 'Oh, papa!' 'Well! I only want you to do justice to Mr. Thornton, who is, I

suspect, of an exactly opposite nature,--a man who is far too

proud to show his feelings. Just the character I should have

thought beforehand, you would have admired, Margaret.' 'So I do,--so I should; but I don't feel quite so sure as you do

of the existence of those feelings. He is a man of great strength

of character,--of unusual intellect, considering the few

advantages he has had.' 'Not so few. He has led a practical life from a very early age;

has been called upon to exercise judgment and self-control. All

that developes one part of the intellect. To be sure, he needs

some of the knowledge of the past, which gives the truest basis

for conjecture as to the future; but he knows this need,--he

perceives it, and that is something. You are quite prejudiced

against Mr. Thornton, Margaret.' 'He is the first specimen of a manufacturer--of a person engaged

in trade--that I had ever the opportunity of studying, papa. He

is my first olive: let me make a face while I swallow it. I know

he is good of his kind, and by and by I shall like the kind. I

rather think I am already beginning to do so. I was very much

interested by what the gentlemen were talking about, although I

did not understand half of it. I was quite sorry when Miss

Thornton came to take me to the other end of the room, saying she

was sure I should be uncomfortable at being the only lady among

so many gentlemen. I had never thought about it, I was so busy

listening; and the ladies were so dull, papa--oh, so dull! Yet I

think it was clever too. It reminded me of our old game of having

each so many nouns to introduce into a sentence.' 'What do you mean, child?' asked Mr. Hale.




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