'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.' '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.




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