'Thornton! He's the chap as wrote off at once for these Irishers;

and led to th' riot that ruined th' strike. Even Hamper wi' all

his bullying, would ha' waited a while--but it's a word and a

blow wi' Thornton. And, now, when th' Union would ha' thanked him

for following up th' chase after Boucher, and them chaps as went

right again our commands, it's Thornton who steps forrard and

coolly says that, as th' strike's at an end, he, as party

injured, doesn't want to press the charge again the rioters. I

thought he'd had more pluck. I thought he'd ha' carried his

point, and had his revenge in an open way; but says he (one in

court telled me his very words) "they are well known; they will

find the natural punishment of their conduct, in the difficulty

they will meet wi' in getting employment. That will be severe

enough." I only wish they'd cotched Boucher, and had him up

before Hamper. I see th' oud tiger setting on him! would he ha'

let him off? Not he!' 'Mr. Thornton was right,' said Margaret. You are angry against

Boucher, Nicholas; or else you would be the first to see, that

where the natural punishment would be severe enough for the

offence, any farther punishment would be something like revenge.

'My daughter is no great friend of Mr. Thornton's,' said Mr.

Hale, smiling at Margaret; while she, as red as any carnation,

began to work with double diligence, 'but I believe what she says

is the truth. I like him for it.' 'Well, sir, this strike has been a weary piece o' business to me;

and yo'll not wonder if I'm a bit put out wi' seeing it fail,

just for a few men who would na suffer in silence, and hou'd out,

brave and firm.' 'You forget!' said Margaret. 'I don't know much of Boucher; but

the only time I saw him it was not his own sufferings he spoke

of, but those of his sick wife--his little children.' 'True! but he were not made of iron himsel'. He'd ha' cried out

for his own sorrows, next. He were not one to bear.' 'How came he into the Union?' asked Margaret innocently. 'You

don't seem to have much respect for him; nor gained much good

from having him in.' Higgins's brow clouded. He was silent for a minute or two. Then he

said, shortly enough: 'It's not for me to speak o' th' Union. What they does, they

does. Them that is of a trade mun hang together; and if they're

not willing to take their chance along wi' th' rest, th' Union

has ways and means.' Mr. Hale saw that Higgins was vexed at the turn the conversation

had taken, and was silent. Not so Margaret, though she saw

Higgins's feeling as clearly as he did. By instinct she felt,

that if he could but be brought to express himself in plain

words, something clear would be gained on which to argue for the

right and the just.




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