Ifshelovedthisman。If——hehatedthefellow，andlongedtostrikehim。Hewouldknowall。“MaryBarton!letmesee。Aye，thatisthenameofthegirl。Anarrantflirtthelittlehussyis；butverypretty。Aye，MaryBartonishername。“Jembithislips。Wasitthenso；thatMarywasaflirt；thegiddycreatureofwhomhespoke？Hewouldnotbelieveit，andyetbowhewishedthesuggestivewordsunspoken。Thatthoughtmustkeepnow，thoughEvenifshewere，themorereasonfortherebeingsomeonetoprotecther；poorfaultydarling。“She’sagoodgirl，sir，thoughmaybeabitsetupwithherbeauty；butshe’sherfather’sonlychild，sir，and——“hestopped；hedidnotliketoexpresssuspicion，andyethewasdeterminedhewouldbecertaintherewasgroundfornone。Whatshouldhesay。“Well，myfinefellow，andwhathaveItodowiththat!It’sbutlossofmytime，andyours，too，ifyou’veonlystoppedmetotellmeMaryBartonisverypretty；Iknowthatwellenough。“Heseemedasthoughhewouldhavegoneon，butJemputhisblack，working，righthanduponhisarmtodetainhim。Thehaughtyyoungmanshookitoff，andwithhisglovepretendedtobrushawaythesootycontaminationthatmightbeleftuponhislightgreatcoatsleeve。ThelittleactionarousedJem。“Iwilltellyou，inplainwords，whatIhavegottosaytoyou，youngman。It’sbeentelledmebyoneasknows，andhasseen，thatyouwalkwiththissameMaryBarton，andareknowntobecourtingher；andherasspoketomeaboutit，thinksashowMarylovesyou。Thatmaybe，ormaynot。
ButI’manoldfriendofhersandherfather’s；andIjustwishedtoknowifyoumeantomarrythegirl。Spiteofwhatyousaidofherlightness，Iha’knownheronenoughtobesureshe’llmakeanoblewifeforanyonelethimbewhathemay；andImeantostandbyherlikeabrother；andifyoumeanrightly，you’llnotthinktheworseonmeforwhatI’venowsaid；andif——butno，I’llnotsaywhatI’lldotothemanwhowrongsahairofherhead。Heshallrueittothelongestdayhelives，that’sall。
Now，sir，whatIaskofyouisthis。Ifyoumeanfairandhonourablebyher，wellandgood；butifnot，foryourownsakeaswellashers，leaveheralone，andneverspeaktohermore。“Jem’svoicequiveredwiththeearnestnesswithwhichhespoke，andheeagerlywaitedforsomeanswer。HarryCarson，meanwhile，insteadofattendingveryparticularlytothepurposethemanhadinaddressinghim，wastryingtogatherfromhisspeechwhatwastherealstateofthecase。HesucceededsofarastocomprehendthatJeminclinedtobelievethatMarylovedhisrival；andconsequently，thatifthespeakerwereattachedtoherhimself，hewasnotafavouredadmirer。TheideacameintoMrCarson’smind，thatperhaps，afterall，Marylovedhiminspiteofherfrequentandobstinaterejections；andthatshehademployedthispersonwhoeverhewastobullyhimintomarryingher。Heresolvedtotryandascertainmorecorrectlytheman’srelationtoher。Eitherbewasalover，andifso，notafavouredoneinwhichcaseMrCarsoncouldnotatallunderstandtheman’smotivesforinterestinghimselfinsecuringhermarriage；orhewasafriend，anaccomplice，whomshehademployedtobullyhim。Solittlefaithingoodnesshavethemeanandselfish!“BeforeImakeyouintomyconfidant，mygoodman，“saidMrCarson，inacontemptuoustone，“Ithinkitmightbeaswelltoinquireyourrighttomeddlewithouraffairs。NeitherMarynorI，asIconceive，calledyouinasamediator。“Hepaused；hewantedadistinctanswertothislastsupposition。Nonecame；sohebegantoimaginehewastobethreatenedintosomeengagement，andhisangryspiritrose。“Andso，myfinefellow，youwillhavethekindnesstoleaveustoourselves，andnottomeddlewithwhatdoesnotconcernyou。Ifyouwereabrotherorfatherofhers，thecasemighthavebeendifferent。Asitis，Icanonlyconsideryouanimpertinentmeddler。“Againhewouldhavepassedon，butJemstoodinadeterminedwaybeforehim，saying，“YousayifIhadbeenherbrother，orherfather，you’dhaveansweredmewhatIask。Now，neitherfathernorbrothercouldloveherasIhavelovedher——aye，andasIloveherstill；iflovegivesarighttosatisfaction，it’snexttoimpossibleanyonebreathingcancomeuptomyright。Now，sir，tellme!doyoumeanfairbyMaryornot？I’veprovedmyclaimtoknow，and，byG——，Iwillknow。““Come，come，noimpudence，“repliedMrCarson，who，havingdiscoveredwhathewantedtoknownamely，thatJemwasaloverofMary’s，andthatshewasnotencouraginghissuit，wishedtopasson。“Father，brother，orrejectedlover“withanemphasisonthewordrejected，“noonehasarighttointerferebetweenmylittlegirlandme。Nooneshall。
Confoundyou，man!getoutofmyway，orI’llmakeyou，“asJemstillobstructedhispathwithdoggeddetermination。“Iwon’tthen，tillyou’vegivenmeyourwordaboutMary，“repliedthemechanic，grindinghiswordsoutbetweenhisteeth，andthelividpalenessoftheangerhecouldnolongerkeepdowncoveringhisfacetillhelookedghastly。“Won’tyou？“withatauntinglaugh，“thenI’llmakeyou。“Theyoungmanraisedhisslightcane，andsmotetheartisanacrossthefacewithastingingstroke。Aninstantafterwardshelaystretchedinthemuddyroad，Jemstandingoverhim，pantingwithrage。Whathewouldhavedonenextinhismomentofungovernablepassion，nooneknows；butapolicemanfromthemainstreet，intowhichthisroadled，hadbeensaunteringaboutforsometime，unobservedbyeitheroftheparties，andexpectingsomekindofconclusionlikethepresenttotheviolentdiscussiongoingonbetweenthetwoyoungmen。InaminutehehadpinionedJem，whosullenlyyieldedtothesurprise。MrCarsonwasonhisfeetdirectly，hisfaceglowingwithrageorshame。“ShallItakehimtothelock-upsforassault，sir？“saidthepoliceman。“No，no，“exclaimedMrCarson；“Istruckhimfirst。Itwasnoassaultonhisside；though，“hecontinued，hissingouthiswordstoJem，whoevenbatedfreedomprocuredforhim，howeverjustly，attheinterventionofhisrival，“Iwillneverforgiveorforgetyourinsult。Trustme，“hegaspedthewordsinexcessofpassion，“Maryshallfarenobetterforyourinsolentinterference。“Helaughed，asifwiththeconsciousnessofpower。Jemrepliedwithequalexcitement——“Andifyoudaretoinjureherintheleast，Iwillawaityouwherenopolicemancanstepinbetween。AndGodshalljudgebetweenustwo。“Thepolicemannowinterferedwithpersuasionsandwarnings。HelockedhisarminJem’stoleadhimawayinanoppositedirectiontothatinwhichhesawMrCarsonwasgoing。Jemsubmitted，gloomily，forafewsteps，thenwrenchedhimselffree。Thepolicemanshoutedafterhim。“Takecare，myman!there’snogirlonearthworthwhatyou’llbebringingonyourself，ifyoudon’tmind。“ButJemwasoutofhearing。
MaryBarton-Notforamomenttakethescorner’schair；Whileseatedthere，thouknow’stnothowaword，Atone，alook，maygallthybrother’sheart，Andmakehimturninbitternessagainstthee。Love-Truths。Thedayarrivedonwhichthemastersweretohaveaninterviewwithadeputationoftheworkpeople。Themeetingwastotakeplaceinapublicroom，atanhotel；andthere，abouteleveno’clock，themill-owners，whohadreceivedtheforeignorders，begantocollect。Ofcourse，thefirstsubject，howeverfulltheirmindsmightbeofanother，wastheweather。Havingdonetheirdutybyalltheshowersandsunshinewhichhadoccurredduringthepastweek，theyfelltotalkingaboutthebusinesswhichbroughtthemtogether。Theremightbeabouttwentygentlemenintheroom，includingsomebycourtesy，whowerenotimmediatelyconcernedinthesettlementofthepresentquestionbutwho，nevertheless，weresufficientlyinterestedtoattend。Theseweredividedintolittlegroups，whodidnotseemunanimousbyanymeans。Somewereforaslightconcession，justasugar-plumtoquietenthenaughtychild，asacrificetopeaceandquietness。
Someweresteadilyandvehementlyopposedtothedangerousprecedentofyieldingonejotoronetittletotheoutwardforceofaturn-outItwasteachingtheworkpeoplehowtobecomemasters，saidthey。Didtheywantthewildestthinghereafter，theywouldknowthatthewaytoobtaintheirwisheswouldbetostrikework。Besides，oneortwoofthosepresenthadonlyjustreturnedfromtheNewBailey，whereoneoftheturn-outshadbeentriedforacruelassaultonapoornorth-countryweaver，whohadattemptedtoworkatthelowprice。Theywereindignant，andjustlyso，atthemercilessmannerinwhichthepoorfellowhadbeentreated；andtheirindignationatwrong，tookasitoftendoestheextremeformofrevenge。Theyfeltasif；ratherthanyieldtothebodyofmenwhowereresortingtosuchcruelmeasurestowardstheirfellow-workmen，they，themasters，wouldsoonerrelinquishallthebenefitstobederivedfromthefulfilmentofthecommission，inorderthattheworkmenmightsufferkeenly。
Theyforgotthatthestrikewasinthisinstancetheconsequenceofwantandneed，sufferedunjustly，astheendurersbelieved；for，howeverinsane，andwithoutgroundofreason，suchwastheirbelief；andsuchwasthecauseoftheirviolence。Itisagreattruth，thatyoucannotextinguishviolencebyviolence。Youmayputitdownforatime；butwhileyouarecrowingoveryourimaginarysuccess，seeifitdoesnotreturnwithsevendevilsworsethanitsformerself!Noonethoughtoftreatingtheworkmenasbrethrenandfriends，andopenly，clearly，asappealingtoreasonablemen，statingtheexactandfullcircumstanceswhichledthemasterstothinkitwasthewisepolicyofthetimetomakesacrificesthemselves，andtohopeforthemfromtheoperatives。Ingoingfromgrouptogroupintheroom，youcaughtsuchamedleyofsentencesasthefollowing：“Poordevils!they’renearenoughtostarving，I’mafraid。MrsAldredmakestwocows’headsintosoupeveryweek，andpeoplecomemanymilestofetchit；andifthesetimeslast，wemusttryanddomore。Butwemustnotbebulliedintoanything!““Ariseofashillingorsowon’tmakemuchdifference，andtheywillgoawaythinkingthey’vegainedtheirpoint。““That’stheverythingIobjectto。They’llthinkso，andwheneverthey’veapointtogain，nomatterhowunreasonable，they’llstrikework。““Itreallyinjuresthemmorethanus。““Idon’tseehowourinterestscanbeseparated。““Thed——dbrutehadthrownvitriolonthepoorfellow’sankles，andyouknowwhatabadpartthatistoheal。Hehadtostandstillwiththepain，andthatlefthimatthemercyofthecruelwretch，whobeathimabouttheheadtillyou’dhardlyhaveknownhewasaman。Theydoubtifhe’lllive。““Ifitwereonlyforthat，I’llstandoutagainstthem，evenifitisthecauseofmyruin。“Aye，Iforonewon’tyieldonefarthingtothecruelbrutes；they’remorelikewildbeaststhanhumanbeings。“Well，whomighthavemadethemdifferent？“Isay，Carson，justgoandtellDuncombeofthisfreshinstanceoftheirabominableconduct。He’swavering，butIthinkthiswilldecidehim。“Thedoorwasnowopened，andthewaiterannouncedthatthemenwerebelow，andaskedifitwerethepleasureofthegentlementhattheyshouldbeshownup。Theyassented，andrapidlytooktheirplacesroundtheofficialtable；
looking，aslikeastheycould，totheRomansenatorswhoawaitedtheirruptionofBrennusandhisGauls。Tramp，tramp，cametheheavycloggedfeetupthestairs；andinaminutefivewild，earnest-lookingmenstoodintheroom。JohnBarton，fromsomemistakeastotime，wasnotamongthem。Hadtheybeenlargerbonedmen，youwouldhavecalledthemgaunt；asitwas，theywerelittleofstature，andtheirfustianclotheshunglooselyupontheirshrunklimbs。Inchoosingtheirdelegates，too，theoperativeshadhadmoreregardtotheirbrains，andpowerofspeech，thantotheirwardrobes；theymighthavereadtheopinionsofthatworthyProfessorTeufelsdrockh，inSartorResartus，tojudgefromthedilapidatedcoatsandtrousers，whichyetclothedmenofpartsandofpower。itwaslongsincemanyofthemhadknowntheluxuryofanewarticleofdress；andair-gapsweretobeseenintheirgarments。
Someofthemasterswereratheraffrontedatsucharaggeddetachmentcomingbetweenthewindandtheirnobility；butwhatcaredthey？Attherequestofagentlemanhastilychosentoofficiateaschairman，theleaderofthedelegatesread，inahigh-pitched，psalm-singingvoice，apaper，containingtheoperatives’statementofthecaseatissue，theircomplaints，andtheirdemands，whichlastwerenotremarkableformoderation。Hewasthendesiredtowithdrawforafewminutes，withhisfellow-delegates，toanotherroom，whilethemastersconsideredwhatshouldbetheirdefinitiveanswer。Whenthemenhadlefttheroom，awhisperedearnestconsultationtookplace，everyonere-urginghisformerarguments。Theconcederscarriedtheday，butonlybyamajorityofone。Theminorityhaughtilyandaudiblyexpressedtheirdissentfromthemeasurestobeadopted，evenafterthedelegatesre-enteredtheroom；theirwordsandlooksdidnotpassunheededbythequick-eyedoperatives；theirnameswereregisteredinbitterhearts。Themasterscouldnotconsenttotheadvancedemandedbytheworkmen。Theywouldagreetogiveoneshillingperweekmorethantheyhadpreviouslyoffered。Werethedelegatesempoweredtoacceptsuchoffer？Theywereempoweredtoacceptordeclineanyoffermadethatdaybythemasters。Thenitmightbeaswellforthemtoconsultamongthemselvesastowhatshouldbetheirdecision。Theyagainwithdrew。Itwasnotforlong。Theycameback，andpositivelydeclinedanycompromiseoftheirdemands。ThenupsprangMrHenryCarson，theheadandvoiceoftheviolentpartyamongthemasters，andaddressingthechairman，evenbeforethescowlingoperatives，heproposedsomeresolutions，whichhe，andthosewhoagreedwithhim，hadbeenconcoctingduringthislastabsenceofthedeputation。Theywere，firstly，withdrawingtheproposalsjustmade，anddeclaringallcommunicationbetweenthemastersandthatparticularTrades’Unionatanend；secondly，declaringthatnomasterwouldemployanyworkmaninfuture，unlesshesigneda