"Now, don't get in the way." "And what would I be doing with something so grand as that?" "Please, Bessy." "I wore these as a child." "They're not fit for darning." "All right, then." "I'll keep just this one." "Only to look at, mind." "Where's Nicholas?" "Oh, he's been brought so low by the way the strike's gone." "He were a committee man, you know?" "He thought they stood a good chance this time." "Has everyone gone back to work?" "They lost their spirit after the violence." "Fools." "What were they thinking of, throwing stones at a woman?" "I'm sure it wasn't so very bad." " Whatever was done..." " Was enough." "Father, he's that angry with the men that broke the strike, he..." "You see, I wish I knew where he was." "I've never seen him like this, Margaret." "I'm worried about what he might do." "Well, at least we've got the machines going again." " And the Irish?" " They're settled." "They've had a good meal." "I sent for Father Patrick." "He seemed to calm them down." "I'll have to send them home." "I've got workers clamoring to come back." "Serve them right if we kept the Irish workers." "By the way," "I was right, Mother." "Miss Hale will not have me." "No one loves me." "No one cares for me but you." "A mother's love holds fast and forever." "A girl's love is like a puff of smoke." "It changes with every wind." "I knew I was not good enough for her." " Yet I think of her more than ever." " I hate her." "I tried not to, when I thought she would make you happy." "I'd give my life's blood for that." "Who is she, that she dares to reject you?" "No." "It's no good, John." "Your sorrow is mine." " And if you won't hate her, then I must." " She does not care for me." "That is enough." "The only thing you can do for me is never say her name again." " We will never talk of her again." " With all my heart." "I only wish that she and all her family could be swept back to the place they came from." "How kind of Mr. Thornton." "The most splendid fruit I've seen." "Best in the county, I shouldn't wonder." "And a card, written in his own hand." "He has always been most civil and thoughtful." "But I wouldn't have thought he'd have had the time." "He's had so much trouble with the rioting..." "It shows his high regard for you, my dear." "Margaret, you must visit Marlborough Mills and ask after Mrs. Thornton and thank Mr. Thornton for this most gracious gift." "I am sure a note will do as well, Mama." "I saw Thornton in the street today." "He didn't seem quite so in control as usual." " Really?" " He seemed very distracted this morning." "I thought he might have been visiting." "He was just nearby." " Margaret?" " Excuse me." "Has it occurred to you there may be something between him and your daughter?" "Good Lord, no." "Certainly not." "Well..." "I suppose it's possible on his side." "For Margaret, it's out of the question." "She's never liked him, poor fellow." "Oh, I pray he doesn't get his hopes up." "Hide you?" "You've got a nerve." " You wouldn't give us up." " Wouldn't I?" " You've ruined the strike!" " There's no use in fighting." "What were you thinking?" "Half-killing a woman?" " A woman!" " Thornton hid behind her..." "No going against the law!" "That's the iron rule!" "We were in the right." "We could've taken everyone with us, but you... you had to act like the senseless crazed animals they think we are." "You want me to hide you from the police?" "They'll think I'm one of the ringleaders." "I'm a committee man, a union man." "People trust me!" "Strike weren't working." "When were it going to end, eh?" " Your wife and children ain't starving..." " And neither would yours!" "I gave you my word, and I keep my word!" "God, you disgust me." "You're pathetic." "You could have been born with a king's fortune, you'd still have failed them." "You're in this world to bring us down - your family, the union..." "Shut your gob!" "I'm telling the police where you are." "I'm telling them where you are!" " I'll give you up, John Boucher!" " Stop!" "Please." "Thornton!" "Thornton." "Congratulations." "On handling the strike." "Everything back to normal?" "Business is more complicated." "It'll take a while." " Ah!" "You know the Latimers, of course." " Of course." "Ah!" "Margaret!" "Over here." "Well, look at this." "What luck!" "Two of the prettiest girls in Milton." "You remember the Latimers, Margaret?" "My banker, and therefore a very important man, and this is Ann, recently arrived home from Switzerland, I believe." "And very much finished." "Well, where are you off to, my dear?" " Nowhere." " You can have your secrets." "Young women must have secrets." "Isn't that one of the joys of life?" "I wouldn't know." "Good day." "What's the point of spending a fortune on education if you have to spend another on a wedding once they're back?" "Good day, Miss Hale." "Bell." " I'm sorry, my dear." " Mr. Bell." "I'm grateful for the friendship you give my father." "He has felt alone here..." "But you wish I would mind my own business and stop being so damn facetious?" "You're absolutely right, my dear, and it will stop immediately." "But I do take an interest." "I would like to think if you needed help, I would be the first you'd call upon." "You have my word, Mr. Bell." "You'll be the first." "Father." "You're back early." "Yes, er... one of my pupils cancelled our appointment and I came back looking forward to Mr. Thornton's lesson, only to discover that he also fears he might find himself too busy to read this evening." "It has been a busy few days." "No doubt Mr. Thornton will resume his lessons when things quieten down." "No doubt." "No doubt." "Maybe I'll write him a little note of encouragement, hoping he can come later." "Margaret?" " Are you expecting a letter?" " No." "Yes." "Father, I've got something I have to tell you." "I've written to Frederick." "I know that I shouldn't have." "Because of your mother." "And... you think he needs to come quickly?" "Please say I did the right thing, Father." " Is the danger to Frederick so very great?" " Oh, yes, my dear." "I'm afraid it is." "The government must take harsh measures against those who set themselves up in opposition to its authority, especially at sea, where the captain must expect extra support so far from home." "There is still a large reward out on Frederick." "Maybe we could get the letter back." "When... when did you post it?" "Several days ago." "But surely everything happened so long ago." "The Navy spares no expense." "They send out ships specifically to hunt the seas for the guilty men." "It's as fresh and vivid a crime as if it happened yesterday." "And nothing but blood... will wipe it clean." "But Fred's innocent." " Surely there is justice." "We must trust..." " No." "If only I hadn't written." "Supposing I have only encouraged Frederick to come back to a court martial?" " That would kill Mother for sure." " No, you did well." "You acted from the heart." "You were brave for your mother's sake." "I'm glad you didn't tell me, for I might have stopped you." "Dear Edith," "I hardly know how to begin." "There are things I so want to talk to you about but I can't find the words." "I came for a chat with Be..." "Oh, miss." "Were you with her?" "I'm sure it was peaceful." "Look at her face, Nicholas." "There's no more pain." "She's... she's not supposed to go before me." "It doesn't make sense." "It's just not the natural way of things." " You sure it's not a faint?" "It's happened before." " No, Nicholas." "She's dead." "Oh..." "Oh how long it's going to take us to get back on our feet?" "My poor Bess." "She lived the life of a dog." "Hard work and illness." "She never had one moment of rejoicing." "She... she may not have had an easy life, but she will find comfort in the next." "I'm not saying I don't believe in your God, but I can't believe He meant the world to be as it is." "The masters ruling over us, the rest of us left to live a half-life in the shadows." "He gave us the world and our wits and intelligence to discover the grace and beauty in others..." "And I'm to believe that He gave some more than others, and that was His will?" "It's our duty to make peace with others." "It's a pity that you seem to think in terms of... war and strife." "I know there's suffering, and I know there are cruel and greedy masters, but surely it would be better for people of goodwill on both sides to sit down and share ideas of how to do God's will, to live together in peace and harmony." "Wouldn't you think a man like... like Thornton would be open to ideas?" "Thornton?" "He brought in the Irish, that led to the riot and broke the strike." "Even Hamper would have waited, but Thornton's got no deceit about him." "Just when we needed him to be hard, to hunt down men like Boucher and men who betrayed us, what does he do?" "He says he's the injured party." "He won't press charges." "They'll not get employment." "That's punishment enough, he says." " I thought he'd have more guts." " Mr. Thornton was right." "I know that you're angry with Boucher, but even you must see that anything more would look like revenge." "My poor Bess." "She said the strike'd be the end of her." "And it's all because of weak men like Boucher." "Not everyone is as strong as you, Nicholas." "To last out the strike for so long." "People of the same trade must stick together." "If they don't... men have ways and means." " Ways and means?" " Aye." "We can cast a man out." "No one'll look at him or talk to him..." "You talk of the tyranny of the masters, Nicholas." "Now, don't worry, Mr. Hale." "I haven't forgotten who's lying dead and how much she loved your girl." "I'll just say this." "Being in the union... it IS like being in a war." "And with a war comes some crime." "But it would be a greater crime to do nothing." "Look after yourself." "Doesn't the mistress look well today, Miss Margaret?" "She's done a good two inches of needlework and she's read her post." "More letters from your Aunt Shaw, inviting us to the Great Exhibition." "Oh, I do so wish I could go." "Don't worry, I know that I shouldn't." "But you could go, Margaret." "It sounds so exciting." "With bears and elephants and exotic people and inventions from all over the Empire." "I can't go to London." "Not when you're..." "Not until I know you're feeling better." "Yes, but... if you went, you could tell me all about it and maybe bring me something back." " It would give me something to look forward to." " I'll think about it." "You've written to Frederick, haven't you?" "Now I think about it..." "I'm afraid of him coming... in case he should be taken." "After all of these years that he's kept away and lived safely." "There is a risk, but we will be careful." "If we were still at Helstone, people would know who he was." "People would remember." "While here nobody knows or cares for us to notice what we do." "I suppose there's some virtue in being uprooted and friendless." "I'm glad that Miss Margaret wrote." "I was thinking of doing so myself." " And Dixon will keep the door like a dragon." " They'll have to be clever to get past me." "I suppose it's only right that we've invited people from all over the Empire, even if some of the exhibits are a little exotic." "I think it's wonderful." "It seems as though all the world is here for us to see." "I was impressed by the machinery." "I have to say, I never realized the power of it - and the money to be made from cotton." "Maybe WE should go into cotton." "I should think it takes a deal more energy than you have, Maxwell." "We don't need heavy machinery to make money in London." "Nor do we need to suffer the northern climate." "Do we, Miss Hale?" "I ask the expert amongst us." "It's true." "The air is not so clean in Milton." "Margaret has always had a mind of her own, Henry." "You're all here to see this fine machinery." "Technologically, we're the envy of the world." "If only there was a mechanism to enable us all to live together, to take advantage of the great benefits from industry." "But that will be for future generations." "We can bring back marmosets from Mozambique, but we cannot stop man from behaving as he always has." " Don't you think we can put an end to strikes?" " Not in my lifetime." "But with time and patience, we might try to bleed them of their bitterness." "Miss Hale here knows the depths we men in Milton have fallen to." "How we masters only strive to grind workers into the ground" "I certainly do not think that... as Mr. Thornton could tell you, if he would know me at all." "I've presumed to know you once before and have been mistaken." "Miss Hale!" "How delightful." " You've come to London at last." " Mother allowed it because John was coming, and Miss Latimer, of course, who she approves of greatly." "Seems to think he's far more sensible than me." "Henry." "Do you know Mr. Thornton?" "Mr. Thornton." "All the way from Milton." "My brother is interested in dabbling in cotton." "I'm not sure I'm the one to speak to." "I'm not sure I'd know how to dabble." "I must go." "You may enjoy the machinery like an exhibit in the zoo." "I have to go and live with it." "I must get back to Milton." "Give our regards to the Hales." "You must tell them how the London break is suiting Miss Hale." "Don't you think, Thornton?" "Doesn't Miss Hale look well?" "Good day." "Tell Mother I'll be home soon, with so much to tell her." "Ooh!" "John is such a stick-in-the-mud." "Who was that?" "Is it anyone we should know?" "Poor Thornton." "I tempted him down here to try to raise finance for Marlborough Mills." "And he's had to face all kinds of inquiries." "Starry-eyed Londoners who think they only have to snap their fingers to make a fortune." "I'd hardly have thought a manufacturer would appreciate a show like this." "No, you're wrong." "I've heard him talk often with my father." "He's very interested in the world." "Really." "I know him to be." "The misses is sorry for keeping you waiting, Mrs. Thornton." "Would you please come up?" "My daughter Margaret..." "I will be dead soon." "I want you to look after her." "My own sister... she travels, often." "Margaret has no woman's guidance." "I'm sure your daughter makes her own choices." "I cannot make her change her mind." "She has already made her decisions." "I'm surprised she's not here, as you're not well." "I made her go." "I..." "I was feeling a great deal better, but..." "I wish you to be a friend to Margaret." "I'm afraid it is not in my nature to show affection... even when I feel it." "But I promise that if Miss Hale should ask me for help, or... or should I ever hear of her doing something that I see as wrong..." "But Margaret never does anything wrong." "...I will counsel her as I would my own daughter." "I promise." "I pray to God to bless you for your promise to be kind... to my child." "I should never have gone, Dixon." "She wanted you to go." "She was happy for you." "This last turn happened very suddenly." "Who'd come visiting at this hour?" " I'll get the master." " No, I'll go." "Don't disturb him." "Is Mr. Hale in?" "Frederick." "Fred..." "Frederick." "Oh..." " Mother?" " She's still alive." " As ill as she could be, but she lives." " Thank God." " Father..." " You did expect me, didn't you?" " I knew you'd come, but we have had no letter." " I..." "I traveled before it." " But you knew I'd come." " Of course." "I didn't dare think it would be so soon." "Margaret?" "Did I hear the door?" "My boy." "You've come home." " Miss Hale?" " Mr. Thornton." "I have only come to return your father's book and bring fruit for your mother." "Thank you." "Oh, thank you, Mary." "Please take these through to the kitchen." "You must excuse me." "I thought that I would still be welcome here, despite our... despite what has passed between us." "As your father's guest, at least." "Indeed." "Y... you are welcome, but..." " I'm sorry." "You have company already." " No." "Indeed, we do not." "There is no one here." " Good day, Miss Hale." " Mr. Thornton, please." "My mother is ill." "Things are not as they seem." "Please believe me that I mean no discourtesy and that you are most welcome." "Who was that?" "The tradesman that came earlier?" "Mr. Thornton." "He's a manufacturer." "Tradesman, manufacturer, it's all the same." "What did Father mean by placing you in the company of these people?" "Mr. Thornton is..." "He's a gentleman, Fred, and has been very good to us." "I'm sorry." "Who am I to criticize?" "I've neglected you and Mother all these years." "It pains me not to be able to thank those who have been kind to you, that your life and mine must always be separate unless I run the risk of court martial." "Or if you should come to Spain." "You know, I have a good position there." "And, er..." "And?" "The girl I wrote to you about?" "Dolores?" "I only wish you knew her." "You would love her." "You and Father and Mother." "Tell me about her." "We could do with talking of lovely, joyful things." "Fred..." "She's not gone?" " Oh..." " Margaret..." "And then I'm to go to Croxley..." "to read with the Smithers boy." "He's a diligent lad." "Hard-working." "But slow." "I..." "I don't think he'll make much of a scholar." "But his parents hope that with enough help, he can get a decent education." "Miss Dixon?" "Well, fancy seeing you here!" "Maybe you're not a Miss Dixon no longer." "I'm still Miss Dixon to you, young Leonards." "Though I've had my chances, I'm sure." "And you." "Still up to your old nonsense?" "What are you doing all the way up here in Milton?" "Well, Helstone's not exactly an up-and-coming place, is it?" "Besides, this is where all the money is." "I got myself a fine fiancée now, an' all." " She works for one of those big houses." " Hm." "Anyway, what are you doing all the way up here, Miss Dixon?" "You still working for those Hales?" "Wasn't there some sort of, um..." "some scandal involving that boy?" "I'm visiting my sister's family." "Cheerio, then." "I'm sure I'll see you again soon, eh?" "Oh, Dixon." "Do you think he knows about Frederick?" "The mutiny was a very big story." "It was in all the newspapers." "And there is still a big reward." "We certainly don't want him poking his nose in around here." "Frederick must go." "Before the funeral." "Have you talked to my father about arrangements?" "He said Mr. Bell will arrange everything." "Mr. Bell." "Of course." "He will help." "But Frederick must leave before he comes." "No one else must know he's here." "I wish I'd met this Leonards." "I don't see why I should have to run away before the funeral." " I've a good mind to face it out and stand trial." " No, you must go, Fred." "If only I could find witnesses and defend myself, to show what a monster Captain Reid was." "You think a court martial is where justice is administered." "Fred has never tried to defend himself." "How can I now?" "I can't send out the town crier." "I can't commission a pamphlet, even if anyone would bother to read it." "What about a lawyer?" "I know a lawyer who is honorable." "And clever." "I'm sure he would if I..." "Well, if we asked." "Mr. Henry Lennox, Father." "You remember." "Do what you like." "Write to Henry if you must, but do not keep Frederick in England." "Henry Lennox." "Is that Edith's brother-in-law?" " Yes." " He might be all right." "I could write to him all the details of the crew and the ship." "You must leave tomorrow by the night train." "You can see Henry in London and take a boat from there." "Only a few minutes more." "I don't know when I'll see you again." " Who was that?" " Mr. Thornton." "What a scowl that man has." "A very disagreeable fellow, I'm sure." "As with most men, something has happened to make him scowl, Fred." "Don't judge him harshly." " I'll write soon." " Hale?" "It is you, isn't it?" "I thought I recognized you." " I'm not Hale." "Get off!" " What's all this, then?" "Stop!" " Where you been hiding?" " Get off!" "All aboard!" "You must go now, Fred." "Go!" "Go!" " Go." " God bless you, Margaret." "Goodbye." "If we'd been in Helstone chapel, it would have been full... of Mother's friends." "How are they?" "Miss Hale and her father?" "As well as can be expected." "Don't worry, they have many people to look after them." " If there's anything I can do..." " Everything's taken care of." "Well, not a great turnout, to be sure." "The aunt is traveling in Italy, unfortunately." "I'm surprised Lennox didn't turn up, though." "Henry Lennox." "Closely connected to the family." "He's a lawyer." "I hear he takes an interest." "But you can be sure I'll let you know if your help is needed." " Mr. Thornton?" " Yes?" "Mason, isn't it?" "How do you do?" "Sorry to disturb you, sir, but with your being the local magistrate..." "This fellow was found along the station embankment two days ago." "Died in hospital this morning." "He's not from these parts." "We're trying to identify him." "Find out who killed him." " We thought we'd find you here at dinner-time." " You're pretty sure of finding me here any time." " Please." "Sit down." " Thank you." "You're out of work still, because of the strike?" "I'm out of work because I choose not to work." " Have you asked for work at your old mill?" " Hamper knows I'm good." "He'd take me back." "But now we're not allowed to pay into the union." "We do that so we can have a strike fund so we can pay a shilling a week to those in hardship." "Their thinking is, if we're not allowed, there'll be no strikes." "We're not asking masters to fund a strike." "We're not that simple." "But where's the crime in giving to your own out of your own wages, freely earned?" " You earn a wage, don't you, Mr. Hale?" " Yes." "Yes, I do." "The people who pay you don't tell you how to spend it." "No." " No, they... they certainly don't." " Do all the mills operate this new rule?" "Remember Boucher saying the union was a tyrant?" "Sometimes the union has to force a man to see what's good for him." " Boucher was always a fool." " So he did the union harm?" "We had opinion on our side till he started rioting and breaking the law." "Wouldn't it have been better to leave him alone?" "He did the union no good." "And you drove him mad." " Margaret." " She speaks her mind." "I like it." "She doesn't understand." "The union is a great power." "The union is our only power." "I'd best not talk about it." "I can't help feeling angry at Boucher." " There's no end to his mischief." " Still?" "Oh, yeah." "First of all he starts a riot, then he goes into hiding." "Thornton doesn't prosecute, so he slinks back home, and what does he do?" "He goes off to Hamper's begging for work, though that'd mean forsaking his union dues." "To be fair to Hamper, he didn't listen to Boucher." "He drove him away." "Even though they say he cried like a baby." " I found him in the canal beyond Ashley." " Canal?" "Aye." "Determined to kill himself, all right." "It's Boucher." "He's drowned himself." "It can't be Boucher." "He wouldn't have the nerve to drown himself." "Why's my daddy's face purple?" "Water from the dyeing vats goes into that canal." "Higgins." "You knew him." "You must go and tell his wife." "Do it now, man." "We can't leave him here." "I can't." "I can't do it." "Father?" "I'll go." "No, no..." "He loved us all." "And we loved him... and I spoke such terrible words about him only a moment ago..." "What are we to do?" "Only a few days after, Mrs. Boucher followed her husband to heaven, leaving their six children orphans." "We buried them high above the city in the fresh air, their worldly struggle and cares over forever." "How much harder now for those of us who are left behind to mourn." "Excuse me, miss." "It's a police inspector." "I..." "I told him to go away, but I didn't want to disturb the master." " Did he say what he wanted?" " No, miss." "I've shown him to the master's study, but it's you he wants to see." "I beg your pardon, ma'am, especially at such a time." "My duty obliges me to ask you a few plain questions." "A man's died at the infirmary, following a fall, we think, after a fight at outwards station between the hours of 11 and 12 at night on Thursday the 26th." "Erm... at the time, the fight didn't appear to be of much consequence." "Doctors think he had a bad drinking habit and some internal complaint." "There will have to be an inquest." "The witness, a grocer's assistant, stated that the fight was precipitated by some drunken impertinence to a young lady who was walking with a man at the station." "There is some reason to believe that that young lady might be you, ma'am." "I was not there." "The witness said the lady was remarkably handsome." "He, er... he identified the lady as a Miss Hale from Crampton, whose family frequent the shop." "You are the only Miss Hale from Crampton." "Why, I..." "I don't know." "Inspector, much as I would like to own up to being... remarkably handsome," "I'm sorry that I have to repeat that there has been some mistake." " I was not there." " I see." "Do you have any more questions for me, Inspector?" "No, madam." "I have your absolute denial that you were that lady?" "I'm sorry that he... that this man is dead." "But I was not there." "It may be that if my witness insists that it was you at outwards station, then I may have to summon you to an inquest to provide an alibi." "I hope you'll forgive me for seeming impertinent." "I have to do my duty." " Mr. Thornton!" " Ah, Mason." "What's new?" " The man we saw at the mortuary." " Yes." "Leonards, wasn't it?" "A drunk, obviously, but he met his death by violence almost certainly." "One of my mother's servants was engaged to him." "She's in great distress." " Are you acquainted with a Mr. Hale, sir?" " Yes, indeed." "What of it?" "It's just that his death is mixed up with Miss Hale, sir." "I have a very secure chain of evidence that a gentleman walking out with Miss Hale at the station fought with Leonards and may have caused his death." " But the young lady denies she was there." " Are you sure?" "Good day to you!" "Are you sure the man she was with is connected to the death?" " What evening was this?" "What time?" " Between 11 and 12." "Thursday the 26th." "Sir?" "Miss Hale denies she was there?" "So..." "You can see my problem, sir." "I have a witness who's pretty positive he saw Miss Hale, even though I've told him of her denial." "There'll be a coroner's inquest." "Disputed identifications are very awkward." "One doesn't like to doubt the word of a respectable young woman." " She denies she was at the station?" " Twice." "Very emphatic about it." "I did tell her I'd have to ask her again." "I thought if you were a friend of the family..." "Quite right." "Don't do anything until you see me again." "I will look into it." "Can't we give Jane the week off?" "She's better off without that scoundrel Leonards, you know." "You know what the servants are saying about Margaret." "Out after dark with a gentleman." "I do not know or care what they say, Mother." "And nor should you." "You have come very late." " Well?" " Sorry to keep you waiting, ma'am." "I've had other people to see before now, otherwise I would have been here sooner." "There is, after all, to be no inquest in the Leonards case." "So there is to be no further investigation?" "Here." "I have Mr. Thornton's notes." " Mr. Thornton?" " Yes." "He's a magistrate in the case." "He's also an acquaintance of mine." "I told him of the difficulties." ""There will be no inquest..." ""Not enough medical evidence." ""Take no further steps." "I... take full responsibility."" "Thank you." "Mr. Thornton, he... understood that I wasn't there?" "At the station?" "Yes." "Of course." "I'm sorry to have seemed to have doubted your word, ma'am." "The witness was so positive." "But now he knows he was mistaken." "He hopes he hasn't caused offence." "So... good evening, ma'am." "I'll be on my way now." "It's all right, Dixon." "The matter has been resolved." "It's over." "Father is waiting in the sitting-room." "Mr. Thornton?" " I have to thank you." " No." "No thanks." "I did not do anything for you." "Do you not realize the risk that you take in being so indiscreet?" "Have you no explanation for your behavior that night?" " You must imagine what I must think." " Mr. Thornton, please..." "I'm aware of what you must think of me." "I know how it must have appeared, being with a stranger so late at night." "The man you saw me with, he..." "The... the secret is another person's and I cannot explain it without doing him harm." "Is that you, John?" "Come on up." "I have no wish to pry into the gentleman's secrets." "I'm only concerned as your father's friend." "I hope you realize that any foolish passion for you on my part is entirely over." "I'm looking to the future."