"We need some more over here!" "Look out, here's Your Majesty." "She can smell it when you're not working." " You there!" "Is the machine mended?" " Yeah." "Then use it, for there's many to take your place." " The child is ill." "Send her home." " I can't afford to." "The child cannot work." "Is there another child at home?" "If you can get her here within the hour you can keep the place." "Thank you." "In the hour, mind, or lose it." "Whatever you think best, Mother." "You know how this mill works almost better than I do." "You ask me what I miss most about the countryside." "Well, Edith, in Milton you cannot feel the seasons change around you but I do think that at long last we have put winter behind us and I can resume my daily walks." " I don't know why you're blaming me." " Play your tricks." "If you're wrong, we all suffer." " They wanted 5%." "Would you have given it them?" " No, but I would have told them straight." "I wouldn't tell them to come back on payday so I could turn them down flat and provoke them." " Are you accusing me of encouraging a strike?" " Wouldn't it have suited you?" "It's our livelihood you're playing with." " You would handle your workers better?" " I wouldn't deliberately deceive them." "Good day." "Here is the address of our doctor." "You did not need to visit in person." "You could have sent a servant." "You've been in this heathen climate for some time." "I'm surprised you haven't needed a doctor." "We don't." "I came here personally because I didn't want to alarm my father." "It's just a precaution, in case." "My mother has low spirits." "Really?" "We don't have much of that up here." "But Dr. Donaldson will try to help if he can." "I'm sorry to disturb you." "You do not disturb me." "But even you, not remotely interested in industry, might know that there is talk of a strike." "Not just here, but one that will affect the whole of Milton." "What would they gain by striking?" "They'll be wanting higher wages?" "That is what they will say." "But the truth is that there are some men raise themselves to be masters, while others will always seek to pull them down." "That is the way of the world, Miss Hale, and there is nothing you and I can do about it." "I need three over here!" "Hello, Miss Margaret!" "Been visiting the old dragon?" " Hello, Jenny." "How's your mother?" " Little better, miss." " Do you like working here?" " Like it?" "Like work?" "It's the same as anywhere." "Well, it's better than Hamper's." "You can only earn four shillings there." "I earn five and ten up here but my dad makes me give him most of it." "What would you spend it on, if you could?" "Food, and then more food." "A pile of it, great big plates." "So, would you join a strike?" "Well, I'm not saying there will be one." "Just if there was." "Your mother has kindly given me the name of a doctor." " You're ill?" " No." "No, it's just a precaution." "Your mother is always accusing me of knowing nothing about Milton." "Doubt she meant you should hang on to their tittle-tattle." "They weren't telling me any secrets." "There was a man with a survey here." "It's the new thing." "They become practiced at telling others their working conditions." " Do you mind that, if they tell the truth?" " Course not." "I don't apologize to anyone about the wages I pay or how I run Marlborough Mills." "It's in plain sight for all to see." "What about how they spend their money?" "That would be none of my business." "My duty is to the running of the mill." "If I neglect that, all the workers will cease to have an income." "But what about your moral duty?" "If she keeps to her hours and does nothing to disrupt the efficient working of the mill, what she does in her own time's not my concern." "Here in the North, we value our independence." "But surely you must take an interest?" "I'm her employer." "I'm not her father or her brother that I can command her to do as I please." "Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Hale." "I would like to play the overbearing master but I'll answer your questions as honestly as I'm sure you ask them." "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've urgent business." "All the time there she is, looking down on us like a great black angry crow guarding the nest." "As if I would ever consider her son as a suitor!" "Don't say you haven't thought about it." "Mind you, you'd have to get some smarter clothes." "Thank you!" "I'll have you know these were new last year!" "Not a chance." "There's loads of girls after him." "They're welcome to him, with my good wishes." "I can say this." "If I ever have a son I'll not hang on to him like she does." "Well, I'll never be having children of any sort, so that won't be a problem." "Bessy, is it really so bad?" "Fluff on me lungs." "Won't go away, however much I cough." "At least I won't grow too old and ugly!" "There is that." " And this happened at Marlborough Mills?" " No." "No." "Must've happened when I were little." "We didn't know of these things then." "We all had to work." "When Father found out, he moved me straightaway to Thornton's." " He loves you very much, doesn't he?" " Yes." "Fathers and daughters." "Mothers and sons." "So maybe we shouldn't be too hard on old battleaxe Thornton!" "Maybe your mother would be just the same if she had a son." "She does... have a son." "I have a brother." " Why didn't you ever say so before?" " Because we don't talk about him." "Come on, I could do with a good story." "I cried when Fred left home." "So did Mother." "But he was desperate to go to sea and Father thought it would be the making of him." "He left full of hope... but that was before he sailed with the Captain." "He was a monster." "Once they set sail, he did whatever he liked." "He beat the children to within an inch of their lives." " Couldn't they do anything?" " They tried." "Frederick and the others stood up to him." "Some wanted to kill him." "Eventually they put the Captain and a few of his officers in a boat and let it loose on the open sea." "The Navy called it a mutiny." "But Frederick really had no choice." "He was branded the ringleader and called a traitor." "Eventually the Navy printed a list of the mutineers and Fred's name was among them." "It nearly killed my parents." "He was in South America for a few years." "Now he lives in Spain, in Cadiz." "Spain!" "How romantic!" "Sometimes I think I'll never see him again." "But if it could be told how he were put upon, how he defended others against that madman, surely the law would spare him." "Some of the sailors were caught." "They pleaded their case." "Captain Reid was clearly insane." "But they were hanged anyway." "No, Frederick's safe in Spain." "But if he comes home he'll be condemned to death, I'm sure." "I suppose you can take comfort that he was so brave and acted to spare those sailors weaker than himself." "Yes, I do." "But I confess that sometimes I wish he'd been more of a coward if it meant my mother might see him once more." "Preparations already?" "If we're going to entertain, we must do it properly." "You're not regretting the invitations, are you?" "No, no." "Spend what you will." "Though it may have to be the last dinner party we have for some time." "So, who's on the list?" "Slicksons of course." "Fosters." "Browns will decline, but we must invite them all the same." "Hales will come, I presume?" "They are probably aware of the great advantage it would be to Mr. Hale to be introduced to people." "That would not influence them." "How you seem to understand these Hales, John!" "Are they so different from any other people we meet?" "He seems a worthy kind of man." "Rather too simple for trade." "She's a bit of a fine lady, with all her low spirits!" "As for the daughter, she gives herself airs." "Yet they're not rich and they never have been." "She's not accomplished." "She can't play the piano." "What else does she lack to bring her up to your standard?" "I heard Miss Hale say she could not play myself, John." "If you would let us alone we might perhaps see her merits and like her." "I'm sure I never could." "I wish you would try to like Miss Hale, Mother." "Why?" "You've not formed an attachment to her, have you?" "Mind you, she'll never have you." "Why, she once laughed in my face at the thought of it!" "I'm sure she did." "She would never have me." "She has too good an opinion of herself to take you." "I should like to know, will she find anyone better?" "You can both believe me, then, when I say this out of complete indifference to Miss Hale." "Mr. Hale is my friend." "She is his only daughter." "I wish you'd both make an effort to befriend her." "I only wish I knew why you talked about her so much." "I'm tired of it." "What would you like us to talk about?" "How about a strike for a more pleasant topic?" "Now, now listen!" "The men up at Hamper's have been told not to expect a rise!" " What about Slickson's?" " Thornton will tell us Friday!" " So, what do you reckon?" " Strike!" "I thought so." "Now is the time." "We will all stop our machines at the end of the day Friday, 10 minutes before time!" "And no one, no one will start them up!" "What if Slickson decides to offer, do anything to keep his mill working at advantage of others?" "Then you still come out." "Remember, if we all refuse to work we are the strong ones!" " How long d'you think the masters will last out?" " A week, two weeks at most." "What if they send in for hands from Ireland?" " Thornton will." "He'd die before being dictated to." " I'll take him down!" "And any Irishman who takes our wages!" "Listen!" "No!" "No violence!" "Masters expect us to behave like animals." "We will show them we are thinking men." "We will not be out-thought." "The only enemy of the strike is ourselves!" "Now, we must manage this strike well!" "Not like five years ago, when half of us went back to work before the others." "Aye." " Is that understood?" " Aye." "This is it." "We keep together." "Friday evening it is!" "Friday!" "Are the hands about to turn out?" "They're waiting for me to turn down their demands." "Are there many orders in hand?" "Of course." "We know that well enough." "The Americans are flooding the market." "Our only chance is producing at a lower price and faster." "But the faster we fill the orders, the longer it takes to be paid." "How much are we owed?" "The debt to the bank is nearly £400." "The men are less patient." "They've barely made up pay since their last cut." "Why don't they listen?" "They think that just by putting their ignorant heads together they'll get their way." "Don't worry, Mother." "It's a young industry." "These problems will iron themselves out." "We're not yet in the position of selling up." "Can't you get men from Ireland?" "Then you can get rid of the strikers." "I would." "I'd teach them I was master and could employ who I like." "Yes, I can." "And I will too, if the strike lasts." "It'll be trouble and expense but I will do it rather than give in." "If there is to be this extra expense" "I'm sorry we're giving the dinner this year." "We should go on as before." "No more, no less." "There, now, Mother." "Surely one of these will do for the Thorntons'..." " Excuse me." " Ah, and this is Margaret, of course." "The last time I saw you, you were eight, running round Helstone with your brother." "Mr. Bell!" "Of course!" "How do you do?" "I thought that she would grow into a handsome young woman, but this goddess I never imagined." "Margaret will not understand your humor." " No offence, my dear." " Of course not." "I am pleased you've come to visit at last." "With this talk of strikes, I thought I'd check with my banker whether I should sell up my property." "Surely not." "We're not even certain there'll be a strike, are we, Father?" "I don't know." "Seems to me that masters and workers will never see eye to eye." "In my teaching capacity, I meet many a working man." "They have some dreadful tales and speak from the heart and have arguments for the strike which appear entirely logical." "You know, they suffered a pay cut five years ago and have never got back to those wages." "No, though the price of food goes up all the time." "But then our friend Thornton comes to read and he answers my questions and puts the other side so eloquently..." "I truly don't know what to think." "I'm sure Mr. Thornton does put his own view very eloquently." "I'm surprised the Thorntons are having a dinner, with trouble looming." "The Thorntons have a dinner on exactly the same date every year." "Time nor tide stops for Mrs. Thornton's dinners." " She does not turn back for any man." " Now, that is very true!" " Margaret's made friends amongst the workers." " Really?" "Extraordinary girl." " They've said no?" " We were expecting it." "I'm sorry to have taken so long to reply when you were asking what color would suit the baby best." "I do so long to see him." "I'm sure he'll look splendid in whatever you choose." "I've been very busy." "It's strange, for the rest of Milton is not at work." "The mills have been dark for some weeks and the streets are strangely quiet." "People try to scrape what living they can." "But all around there is desperation." "Both workers and masters are holding fast to their positions." "Neither will give way." "No one can say how long the strike will last." "No!" "My wife!" "No!" "She can't stand the sight of her little 'uns starving." "She'll be dead before we get our five per cent!" "I hate you!" "You and the whole pack of the union!" "Said it'd take two weeks." "Two weeks, you said." "It's been twice as long as that and my little 'uns are lying in their beds too hungry to cry." "Don't." "Now, I told you I would take care of you... and I pledge my heart and soul that we will win." "You expect a man to watch his children starve 'ere he dare go against the union." "You've no more pity for a man than a pack of hungry wolves." "We do what little we can." "I feel guilty that we do not go hungry, and helpless in the face of so much suffering." "She's a bit down in the mouth today." "The strike's been going on too long." "Do you blame me?" " What about the Bouchers?" " I left a basket outside the door." "He's got less spirit than Father and more mouths to feed." "The master'll try anything to get them back." "How are you gonna stop 'em going to work?" "We'll be persuasive." "Where I come from in the South if the field laborers strike, the seed would not be sown and there'd be no harvest." " So?" " What would become of the farms?" "The farmers would have to give them up or maybe they could pay a fair wage!" "Suppose they couldn't, even if they wished to?" "Then they'd have no corn to sell and no wages to pay the next year." "I don't know about the South!" "I've heard there are a lot of unspirited, downtrodden men." "I'm sure I'm very ignorant." "But surely not all the masters would withhold pay with no reason." "You're a foreigner." "You know nothing." "To hell with Thornton's, Slickson's, Hamper's." "To hell with the lot of them." " Is Mr. Thornton really as bad as the rest?" " He's a fighter, fierce as a bulldog." "He's better-looking, surely, than a bulldog?" "He'll stick to his word like a dog." "He's worth fighting with." "That's the best I'll say for him." "I'll not argue with you, miss." "See you later, lass." "He doesn't mean to shout." "They're all nerves at the minute." " Where's he going?" " Golden Dragon." "He has a pint pot to... calm himself sometimes." "He talks so certain, but he's worried about keeping the strike together." "There's a lot of men, and not all of them have the same discipline as Father." "Ah, Mrs. Thornton!" "I hope it is silent enough for you tonight, Mr. Hale." "The men have been gracious enough to turn out for the last month so all is quiet for our dinner party." "I'm sorry that your mother is ill." "It's nothing serious, I'm sure." "She is just a little tired." "I wonder if she might like to try the water mattress." "It's the very latest thing, a mattress that fills with water." "Gives great comfort to the back." " Have you been ill, Miss Thornton?" " Oh, no, no." "I am very delicate." "I send off for the latest inventions, just in case." "Mother doesn't approve." "Ah, Thornton, good evening." "Slickson, good evening." "Henderson." "Watson." "Thornton." "I took the liberty of inviting myself, knowing your mother's hospitality." "I hope you're not worrying about Marlborough Mills?" "We'll ride out the strike as we always have." " I've always had faith in you, but this situation..." " It's nothing I can't handle." "No, of course not." "Thornton knows everything in matters of business." "He has my every confidence." "Thornton, you know Miss Latimer?" "Thornton, who's that fine young lady?" "See, I am learning Milton ways, Mr. Thornton." "I am sorry your mother was unable to join us." "Thornton, I must speak with you." "Excuse me." " Have you left word at the barracks?" " It's been done." " Men on horseback, armed?" " All those arrangements have been made." "If they find out you are planning to break the strike..." "I take this risk for myself." "You need not join in." "I can and will protect myself and anyone that works for me from any kind of violence." "I sincerely hope so." "Thornton is most ungallant this evening, leaving the most glorious woman in the room to talk to that slimy eel Slickson." "Now, then, who can we introduce you to?" "Come with me." "I hear Arnold is moving, lock, stock and barrel, to America." "America?" "I'll be damned." "That's what I'd like to do, pack up and leave." "The damn strikers'd have no work at all then." "They have no work at the moment." "There is work." "They choose not to do it." "Thornton?" "What do you think?" "I think our Mr. Bell is up to his old tricks, playing with words at the expense of us simpler fellows." "But it's a serious question." "I don't want to manufacture in another country but it's logical for others to try if they cannot make a profit here." "What do you think, Miss Hale?" "Surely you don't condone the strikers." "Well, no." "And yes." "It is surely good to try to see both sides of a question." "Mrs. Arthur saw you taking a basket to the Princeton district the other afternoon." "I have a good friend in Princeton." "Her name is Bessy Higgins." "Higgins?" "Isn't he one of your union leaders, Hamper?" "Yeah." "He's a terrific firebrand." "A dangerous man." "I'm surprised, Miss Hale, you keep such company." " Bessy is my friend." "Nicholas is a little..." " Nicholas?" "She's on first-name terms?" "Well, Mr. Higgins has been made a little wild by circumstances." "But he speaks from his heart, I'm sure." "If he's so determined, I'm surprised he'll accept charity." "Well, he doesn't for himself." "The basket was for a man whose six children are starving." "Ah, well." "Then he knows what to do." "Go back to work." "I believe this poor starving fellow works at Marlborough Mills, doesn't he, Margaret?" "You do the man, whoever he is, more harm than good with your basket." "You could say the longer you support the strikers, the more you prolong the strike." "That is not kindness." "They will be defeated but it will take longer." "Their pain will be prolonged." "But surely to give a dying baby food is not just a question of logic?" "Mrs. Thornton, I really must congratulate you on these magnificent um, table settings." "I don't believe I've seen finer table decorations even in the grandest gatherings in Harley Street." "Not all masters are the same, Mr. Bell." "You do us an injustice to always think we're all up to some underhand scheme or other." "Do come in." "Maria may still be up." "Margaret?" "Who was that, Dixon?" " Who?" " The man I saw leaving the house." " What man?" " Dixon." "It was the doctor." "Dr. Donaldson." " Mother?" " He was making his usual visit." "His usual visit?" "How long has he been coming here?" "Margaret!" "Why are you hiding over there?" "Oh, now, now!" "What's this?" "Dixon told you, didn't she?" " She promised she wouldn't." " I made her." "It was Dixon who said that you shouldn't be told." "What does Dixon know?" "She's a servant." "I'm your daughter!" "Shh." "I don't want your father to hear." "Don't be angry with Dixon." "She loves me." "No." "I'll try not to." "I keep thinking about Helstone." "I used to complain about it sometimes and want to leave." "And now I'll never see it again." "That's my punishment." "And, Margaret..." "I can't stop thinking about Frederick." "I'll never see him again either!" "Oh, Margaret, it's so hard!" "There, there, now." "Shh, shh." "Shh." "Dear, dear, dear!" "Shh." "There, now, miss." "You would know!" "Now you'll fret before you need to." "Likely tell the master too." "Then I'll have the whole house to deal with." "No, I won't tell Father." " I can bear it better than him." " So I see!" "I've known for some time now how ill she is." "And, though I don't pretend to love her as you do," "I've loved her better than anyone else in the whole world." "I'll never forget the first time I saw her." "The young Miss Beresford." "I broke a needle into my finger, I was so nervous and she bound my hand with her own handkerchief." "And then when she returned from the ball she remembered to look in on me." "She changed the handkerchief for another one." "She was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen or seen since." "Now, miss, you'd best get to bed!" "You're gonna need a clear mind in the morning." "I'm sorry I get cross with you, Dixon." "Oh, bless you." "I like a bit of spirit!" "When you're all fired up, you remind me of Master Frederick." "That is a welcome sight." "You'll take us to the factory in the morning, sir?" "That's the lot for tonight." "We can't risk bringing any more in before daylight." "Come on, O'Neil!" "Keep up, now!" "Oh, it's you, miss." " Did you see anyone in the street?" " No." "That's very odd, isn't it?" " Where is everyone?" " I think we'll know soon enough." "Best get inside the house, miss, and bolt the door behind you." "Mama will be here in a moment." "She asked me to apologize." "Did I see faces in the mill?" "My brother has imported hands from Ireland." "They're huddled up in the top room." " What are they doing there?" " They're frightened." "The strikers have frightened them so that they don't dare work and we don't dare let them out." "Mama is seeing to their food and John is trying to calm them down." "Some of the women are wailing and begging to go back home." "Ah, here's Mama." "Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you at such a time." "My mother..." "Fanny mentioned you had a water mattress that we might borrow?" "I am sorry, I thought..." "Thornton!" "Thornton!" "Push it down!" "They're coming!" "They're coming!" "They'll kill us all!" " Keep her here at the back of the house." " How soon can the soldiers be here?" " Try to stop her panicking." " Miss Hale!" "Miss Hale, I am sorry you have visited us at this unfortunate moment." "They're in there somewhere!" "Go on!" "Go on, lads!" "We'll find 'em!" "It's not right!" "I've a family to feed!" "Get the Irish out!" "Oh, my God!" "They're going for the mill door!" "Get the Irish out!" "Oh, no!" "It's Boucher!" "Let 'em yell." "Keep up your courage for a few minutes longer." " I'm not afraid." "Can't you pacify them?" " The soldiers will make them see reason." "Reason?" "What kind of reason?" "Go down this instant and face them like a man." "Speak to them as if they were human beings." "They're driven mad with hunger." "Their children are starving." "They don't know what they're doing." "Go and save your innocent Irishmen." "Mr. Thornton, take care!" "In God's name, stop!" "Think of what you're doing!" "He is only one man and you are many!" "Go home." "The soldiers are coming." "Go in peace." "You shall have an answer to your complaints." " Will you send the Irish home?" " Never!" " Go inside!" " They will not hurt a woman." "Go inside or I will take you in!" "Are you satisfied?" "Kill me if that's what you want!" " Is she dead?" " No, she's breathing but she looks very bad." "Where is Mother?" "We need a doctor." "She had to get through the rioters." "She were the only one of us brave enough to go." " Did you see?" " What?" "Miss Hale." "What happened down below." " Did you see Miss Hale clinging to the master?" " No." " Did all the servants see?" " We had a good view from top window." "Mama's sure she's set her mind on John." "This proves it." "Oh, quick, Jane!" "Fetch some water!" "There, there..." "Miss Hale!" "You lie quietly." "Mother's gone for the doctor." "He will be here soon!" "I don't need a doctor." "I must go home." "No, you can't!" "Mother, thank goodness you're back!" "Miss Hale..." " Is she worse?" " No, I'm quite well." "I want to go home." "Mm, looks worse than it is." "But you've had quite a blow, young lady." " You'd better rest here a while." " No, you know my mother is unwell." "She must not be alarmed." "If she hears of this..." "I will go now." " Surely not, doctor?" " I think she must be allowed to do as she will." "I'll take her with me in the carriage, see she reaches home safely." "The streets are still very noisy." "Very well." "This way!" "Mr. Thornton?" "Don't worry, sir." "We'll catch the ringleaders." "Thornton's come up smiling again." "Those hoodlums have broken the strike." "Didn't even have to use his Irishmen." "Margaret, is that you?" "Yes, Mother." "I..." "I'll be in soon." "I must wash." "The streets are very dusty today." "Where is Miss Hale?" "She has gone home." "Gone home?" "That is not possible." "Really, John, she was quite well!" "She took a terrible blow." "What were you thinking of?" "Everything was done properly." "Dr. Donaldson was called." "I went for him myself as no one else seemed to have a mind to go." "Thank you." "The streets were dangerous." "You..." "I'm sure it's not possible to keep a headstrong young woman anywhere she doesn't care to be." "She's such a reckless young woman." " Jane, have you nothing to be getting on with?" " Miss Fanny, sir..." "I was so scared!" "I almost fainted!" "I thought they would break down the door and murder us all!" " Fanny, don't be so ridiculous." " You were in no danger." "Where are you going?" "To see if Miss Hale is well." "I sent her home in a carriage with Dr. Donaldson." "Everything was done properly." "John!" "I'm asking you not to go." "I hear there's been... some violence up at Marlborough Mills." "I do hope there's not too much damage." "There's a young lady wants Miss Margaret." "I told her to go but she's very distressed." "Said her name's Mary." "I'm sorry, miss!" "I didn't know what to do!" "Bessy's been took so very ill!" "Still up?" " I thought you'd be exhausted." " Why should I be?" "Where have you been?" "Just walking." "Where have you been walking?" "I promised you I would not go there and I did not." "But?" "But..." "You know I will have to go there tomorrow and you know what I will have to say." "Yes." "You could hardly do otherwise." "What do you mean?" "I mean that you are bound in honor as she has shown her feelings for all the world to see." " Her feelings?" " She rushed out in front of them and saved you." "Or are you telling me I imagined that?" "You think none of the servants saw it?" "Do you think it's not become the tittle-tattle of Milton?" "She did save me." "But, Mother, I daren't believe such a woman could care for me." "Don't be so foolish." "What more proof do you need, that she should act in such a shameless way?" "I'm sure she will take you from me." "That is why I didn't want you to go to see her today." "I wanted one last evening of being the first in your affections." "I will have to change the initials on our linen." "They will bear her name now, hers and yours." "I know she does not care for me." "But I can't remain silent." "I must ask her." "Don't be afraid, John." "She has admitted it to the world." "I may yet even learn to like her for it." "It must have taken a great deal to overcome her pride." "Dear Margaret, if only Uncle would bring you all home you wouldn't need to witness such suffering." "As for feeling guilty, Margaret, surely you can have nothing to reproach yourself for." "After all, the workers chose to go on strike and I am sure you've done your best to help." "Even when we were little girls you always did the right thing." "I had not noticed the color of this fruit." "I'm afraid I was very ungrateful yesterday." " You have nothing to be grateful for." " I think that I do." " I did only the least that anyone would have." " That can't be true." "I was, after all, responsible for placing you in danger." "I would have done the same for any man there." "Any man?" "So you approve of that violence?" "You think I got what I deserved?" "No, of course not!" "But they were desperate." "I know if you were to talk to them..." "I forgot." "You imagine them to be your friends." " But if you were to be reasonable..." " Me?" "Are you saying that I'm unreasonable?" "If you would talk with them and not set the soldiers on them, I know they would..." "They will get what they deserve." "Miss Hale, I didn't just come here to thank you." "I came because..." "I think it very likely..." "I know I've never found myself in this position before." "It's difficult to find the words." "Miss Hale, my feelings for you are very strong." "Please, stop." "Please don't go any further." "Excuse me?" "Please don't continue in that way." "It's not the way of a gentleman." "I'm well aware that in your eyes at least I'm not a gentleman." "But I think I deserve to know why I am offensive." "You speak to me as if it were your duty to rescue my reputation!" "I spoke to you about my feelings because I love you." "I have no thought for your reputation." "You think that because you are rich and my father is in reduced circumstances that you can have me for your possession?" " I should expect no less from someone in trade!" " I wish to marry you because I love you!" "You shouldn't, because I do not like you and never have." "One minute we talk of the color of fruit the next of love." "How does that happen?" "My friend Bessy Higgins is dying." "And that, of course, is my fault, too?" " I'm sorry." " For what?" "That you find my feelings for you offensive?" "Or that you assume I'm only capable of thinking in terms of buying and selling?" "Or enjoy sending my employees to an early grave?" "No!" "No, of course not." "I..." "I'm sorry to be so blunt." "I have not learnt how to... how to refuse." "How to respond when a man talks to me as you just have." "There are others?" "This happens to you every day?" "You must have to disappoint so many men that offer you their heart." " Please understand, Mr. Thornton..." " I do understand." "I understand you completely."