"Go on!" "Get out and don't come back!" "Go on!" "Go on!" "And don't show your face in here again!" "Although the autumn is turning chilly," "I am still determined to take my daily walk." "I cannot persuade Father to join me." "He has been very cast down since Mother's death." "He keeps to the house and his own company and he has very few visitors to disturb him." " That man Higgins is here." " Show him up, Dixon." "If you saw his shoes you'd say the kitchen were a better place!" "He can wipe them, surely." "I've been looking for work." "Been keeping a civil tongue in my head and not minding who says what back to me." "I'm doing it for him, of course, not me." "Boucher." "Well, not for him." "He doesn't need my help where he is, but his children." " But I need your help, Master, if you'll give it." " Gladly." "But what can I do?" "Well, Miss here has often talked about the South." "I don't know how far it is." "But if I can get down there, where food is cheap and wages are good and people are friendly... maybe you can help me get work there." " What kind of work?" " I'm good with a spade." "You mustn't leave Milton for the South." "You couldn't bear the dullness of life." "It would eat away at you like rust." "Think no more of it, Nicholas, I beg you!" "Nicholas, have you been to Marlborough Mills for work?" "Aye, I've been to Thornton's." "The overlooker told me to be off and... told me to go away, sharpish." "Would you try again?" "I..." "I should be so glad if you would." "Mr. Thornton would judge you fairly, I am sure, if given the chance." "It would take my pride." "I think I'd rather starve." " If you can think of anything, Master." " Well, of course, of course." "Thank you." "I'll bid you goodnight." "I am sorry, Nicholas." "You'll find your shoes by the fire." "He is a proud man." "Still, there are qualities to be admired in these Milton men." "Maybe..." "God has found His way here after all." "If only he and Mr. Thornton could speak man to man!" "If he could forget Mr. Thornton is a master and appeal to his heart!" "My word, Margaret!" "To admit that the South has its faults and that Mr. Thornton has his virtues!" "What has happened to bring about such a transformation?" "Mrs. Thornton." "Thank you for sparing the time to visit us." "My father is detained but he'd be touched by your kindness." "Thank you for your kind messages." "We're so grateful." "My aunt has sent me details of a little Italian tune that Miss Thornton asked me about." "Miss Hale." "I'm afraid I did not visit to indulge Fanny's thirst for light music." "I have a duty to perform." "I promised your mother that if I knew you had acted wrongly I would offer you advice, whether you chose to take it or not." "So, when I learned from one of my servants that you had been seen out after dark with a gentleman" "I thought it right to... to warn you against such impropriety!" " Many a young woman has lost her character..." " Mrs. Thornton!" "I'm sure my mother never meant me to be... exposed to insult." "Whatever Mr. Thornton has told you..." "My son has told me nothing." "You know nothing of the man you rejected." "If he has any knowledge of this, he keeps it to himself as any man of honor would." "Of course." "I don't doubt it." "I cannot give you any sort of explanation." "I have done wrong but not in the way you imagine or imply." "I did not approve of my son's attachment to you." "You did not seem worthy to me." "But I was prepared, for his sake." "Your behavior on the day of the riots exposed you to the comments of servants." "But by the time my son had proposed you'd changed your mind." " Maybe this other lover..." " You must think very little of me, madam." "I can't claim to be sorry you refused my son." "No, I'm glad." "Especially now, when you expose yourself to gossip and ridicule." "I won't listen to you any more." "I refuse to answer your questions." "Excuse me." " I need to talk to you, sir." " I can't stop now." " You've seen the new figures?" " I'd hoped to reduce the bank loan by now." "It's a pity so much is tied up in the new machinery." "I needed the machinery." "We were doing well." "We had large orders." "I needed the cotton in bulk." " I expected to be able to fulfill the contracts." " You've been back to work for a good while now." "But we're still behind with the orders and we'll not catch up for..." "It's not looking like we will catch up." "Well, the bank can extend the loan." "Temporarily." "But we'll have to be careful." "I don't think anyone has ever accused me of being careless!" "Or frivolous!" "Forgive me." "I don't know how I could have prevented this or what to do next." "Well, there are more... modern financial procedures." "Investments." "I could let you know when I hear of any such schemes." "Speculation?" "I'll not risk everything on some idiot money scheme." "Well, if matters carry on like this you might not have anything left to risk." "Sir?" " Good Lord!" "Are you still here?" " Yes, sir." "I want to speak to you." "You'd better come in, then." " What do you want with me?" " My name is Higgins." " I know who you are." "What do you want?" " I want work." "Work?" "You've got a nerve." " Hamper'll tell you I'm a good worker." " I'm not sure you'd like what he says about you." "I've had to turn away 100 of my best hands for following you and your union." "And you think I should take you on?" "Might as well set fire to the cotton waste and have done with it." "I'd not speak against you." "If I found anything wrong I'd give you fair warning before taking action." "I'm a steady man." "I work hard." "How do I know you're not just planning mischief or you're saving up money against another strike?" "I need work, for the family of a man who were driven mad." "He had his job taken by one of those Irishmen you hired." "Your union forced me into hiring those Irish." "Much good it did me!" "Most of them have gone home." "If I were to believe your reason..." "I can't say that I'm inclined to." "I'd advise you to try some other work and leave Milton." "If it were warmer I'd take Paddy's work and not come back." "But come winter the children'll starve." "If you knew of any place away from mills..." "I'd take any wage for the sake of those children." "What, you'd take wages less than others?" "They have no union, of course." "Your union'd judge my Irish for trying to feed their families, yet you'd do this for these children." "I'll not give you work." "You're wasting your time." "And yours." "I was told to ask you by a woman." "Thought you had a kindness about you." "She was mistaken, but I'm not the first to be misled by a woman." "Tell her to mind her own business next time." "How long has he been waiting to speak to me?" "He was outside the gate when I arrived, sir, and it's four now." "Oh!" "Miss Hale!" " I must congratulate you." " Yes, we are to be married soon!" "Delighted to see you again, Miss Hale." "You must hurry, Miss Hale, for my dear girl is busy buying up the whole shop." "He is a little grey, but he's very well set up." "He's a very good match for us Thorntons." "He's been trying to interest John in a speculation." "Speculation?" "Excuse me, I just didn't think that Mr. Thornton would participate in any kind of risky venture." "Everybody does it!" "All business is risk, as my Watson would say." "John will have to be more modern in his ideas if he's to keep up." "No!" "You must send the bills to Marlborough Mills." "You must not pay for a button." "We are quite rich enough!" "Honestly!" "Miss Hale could do with having just a little humility about her position." "She was at Green's." "Stopped to congratulate me." "She seemed surprised about my wedding plans." "She's so grave and disapproving, as if we couldn't afford it." "I soon put her right." "It's not as if she will ever get a husband." "She's much older than me." "And so severe!" "I told her about Watson's business proposition and she really turned up her nose at me!" "She as much as said you wouldn't be interested, as if she knew you better than me." "So superior." "I'll thank you not to discuss my business affairs in the street." "What do you know about anything except how to spend money?" "If you were to take up Watson's offer and join him in the speculation, you would be certain to profit!" "There is nothing certain about speculation." "I will not risk the livelihoods of my men by joining Watson's tomfool schemes." "If I lose money, how will I be expected to pay off the expense of your wedding?" "You'll be sorry." "Is the speculation so risky?" "Do you need to ask me that, Mother?" "It's very risky." "If it succeeds, our financial problems will be over and no one will ever know how bad things are." "If it fails?" "At the moment the payroll is safe." "Would you advise me to risk it?" " If you succeeded, they'd never know." " And if it fails, I would have injured others." "Would you ask me to risk that?" "Tell me what to do." "Pray for a good summer." "People will buy cotton clothes." "Pray that some of our buyers pay their bills on time and pray that Fanny doesn't have time to order any more from the draper's." "She is in g-great..." " Are these your children?" " No, but they're mine now." " Did your daughter teach them to read?" " I think they are teaching her." " And these are the children you mentioned?" " You didn't believe me?" "I spoke to you in a way that I had no business to." "I did not believe you." "I couldn't have taken care of a man such as Boucher's children." "I have made enquiries and I know now that you spoke the truth." "I beg your pardon." "He's dead and I am sorry." "But that's the end of it." "Will you take work with me?" "You've called me impudent, a liar, a mischief-maker." "For these children, you think we could get along?" "Well, it's not my proposal that we get on well together." "Work is work." "I'll come." "And what's more, I'll thank you." "And that's a good deal from me." "And this is a good deal from me." "Now, mind you come sharp to your time." "What times we have, we keep sharp." "And the first time I catch you using that brain of yours to make trouble, off you go." " Now you know where you are." " Reckon I'll leave my brains at home, then." "Was Miss Hale the woman that told you to come to me?" " You might have said." " And you'd have been a bit more civil?" "Well, my father is waiting in the sitting-room." "I thought you might like to know that I have taken Higgins on." "I am glad of it." "I didn't know that it was you who urged him to come to me." "Would it have made you more or less likely to give him a job?" "I don't know." "I'll not withdraw it, if that's what worries you." "I wouldn't think you capable of that." "I have a better opinion of you than you do of me at the moment, I feel." "Margaret, my dear, you're not obliged to answer this question but... do you have any reason for thinking that Mr. Thornton cared for you?" "Father, I'm sorry." "You... rejected him?" " I should have told you." " Oh, no, no, no." "It would account for him not coming so often to the house." "And I do value his company and conversation especially now... now your mother's gone." "But if you feel uncomfortable in his presence I'll ask him not to come to the house again." "I mean, I'm sure you were honest with him." "That's the most important thing." "I've done nothing that I wouldn't do again." "Thank you." "I needed that." "You're becoming a model employee." "Maybe someone will tell the union." "I always kept to my time." "Ask anybody." "No, I'll not give Thornton the chance to give me the sack." "Puts in all hours himself." "Sometimes I don't think he sleeps." "He's taken an interest in young Tom, saying he's got to have a good education." "He's a funny one." "I can't make him out." "Now you will be drummed out of the union for thinking not so badly about a master!" "Laugh... at me." "C-call me..." "A comee..." "C-comical." " A..." " Animal." "Animal." "What are you doing here?" "Where's Higgins?" "Have you had your supper?" "Mary went to the butcher but she didn't do dinner." "Why are you so late?" "Shift finished an hour ago." "What are you up to?" "Work wasn't finished." "We stayed until it was." " Can't pay over your time." " See you working over your time." "You go under, no one else'll take me on, and who'll put food in his mouth?" "He's not had his supper, he's been telling me." "Some days there's good meat, other days nothing fit for a dog even if you've got money in your pocket." "There's your market forces in action, Master." "It's a pity you can't get up some scheme." "Buy food wholesale, cook for twenty instead of one." "Everybody'd be able to afford a good meal a day and you'd have fit minds to do studying." "Careful, someone will report you to the masters union for that kind of talk." "If men eat well, they work well." "That'll please masters too, unless they're idiots." "Which some of them are." "We'd need somewhere to cook." "There's an old outhouse out the back, not in any use." " You did bring your brains with you to work." " Well, I can't do without them altogether." "You get some figures up and we'll see." "Not promising, mind." "Sholto cries that he cannot remember what his Aunt Margaret looks like." "It's freezing in London." "I can't wait for spring." "You must have icicles on your noses in Milton!" "It must be even more arctic up there." "Couldn't you try to brave the journey and visit us soon?" "And persuade Uncle to come with you." "Master?" " Will you come in?" "It's stew today." " I haven't had that for a while." " Not eaten all day, I'll bet." " No, no, been too busy." "This is very good." "Really." "Very good." " Isn't that your daughter?" " Aye." "She's a good girl." "A fair cook." "She's come into her own since her sister died, God rest her soul." "Congratulations, Mrs. Thornton." "A very good match, I'm sure." "I haven't seen Mr. Thornton for some time." "The winter's been going on so I do hope he isn't sickening." "My son works hard, Mr. Hale." "He's never ill." "Isn't that Mr. Latimer's daughter?" "It's from Mr. Bell." "There's to be a reunion of all my Oxford friends." " This time you will accept his invitation?" " I think I will." "I can give my pupils a holiday for a few weeks and now that Thornton's stopped coming..." "I'm worried about him." " Why?" "Is Marlborough Mills really in danger?" " Yes, I'm afraid it is." "But it's his spirit I fear for." "Remember, after his father... died he struggled for years to build everything up again." "He raised his family from poverty." "How much worse to be brought low a second time." "I know what it is to disappoint one's family." " He will feel bitterly he's failed his mother." " He will not have failed in her eyes." "Now it's my turn to leave you." " I'm a little nervous, to tell you the truth." " Don't worry, Father." "It's natural to wonder whether a place where you were so happy so many years ago whether Oxford will be the same." "But once you're there with Mr. Bell you'll have a wonderful time." "Wrap up warm." "It's still very chilly." "It's to Margaret, of course." "She's my main concern now." "I worry." "I worry about her... when I'm gone." "Oh, come, come!" "That won't be for a while." "Anyway, I'm her guardian." "I've got no one else to look after." "When the time comes, have no fear." "She shall want for nothing." "You care for her better than I have." "Nonsense!" "I thought you'd put all that talk behind you." "You know, these last few weeks have done you good." "You look years younger." "Yes, I feel it." "I feel as though I have come home." "I must tell Margaret." " Mr. Hale?" "Dead?" " Aye, in his sleep." "Poor fellow." "Never recovered from his wife's death." "Master?" "Master, come in." "Sit down." "Have some food." "And Margaret?" "What of her?" "There's nothing to keep her here now." "Her aunt's coming to take her home, they say." "She's seen a great deal of sorrow since she's been here." "We'll be sorry to see her go, Mary and I." "Oh, my dear!" "How you have suffered!" "And what sorrows your father's brought you!" "We are leaving instantly." "Dixon, you're to stay here for the time being and arrange an auction for all this." "Not all the books." "I must say goodbye to our friends." "I can't imagine how many friends you can have here!" "I will help you say goodbye and then we are leaving this horrible place for good!" "I am sorry that you're leaving, Miss Hale." "I was hoping that you might visit my house." "I've finished it with Indian wallpaper from the Exhibition." "I don't suppose you could travel back?" "Miss Hale will be in no mood for traveling back from London just to see your furnishings, Fanny." "It was a while ago, but I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you at our last meeting." "I know that you meant well." "So, you're going." "I... brought you Father's Plato." "I thought that you might like it." "I shall treasure it." "As I will your father's memory." "He was a good friend to me." "So you are going." "And never come back?" "I wish you well, Mr. Thornton." "I must get her home as soon as possible." "To be sure." "As soon as possible." "Look back." "Look back at me." "Nicholas!" "Nicholas!" "Stop the cab!" "Margaret, there you are!" "We thought you'd gone." "We were going to the station to try and catch you." "Can't believe you'd leave without saying goodbye!" "We would've come to London next Whitsun rather than you go without a farewell from friends." "Oh, no, Margaret." "No, not between friends." "No, not for you, Nicholas." "For the children." "You can't refuse it for the children." "You'll let me know how they do." "I don't know when she's going to cheer up." "It's been three months now and she's still insisting on wearing black." "Henry, I'm counting on you." "You know how much Captain Lennox and I would like the two of you to get together." "Mind you, she's terribly good with Sholto." "I should hate to lose her." "Perhaps we could all live together in one big house." "Mr. Bell arrives today." "Maybe he can make her smile." " Mr. Bell, do you really mean it?" " Of course!" "I was sitting on the train thinking, "How could we amuse ourselves?" We should visit Helstone." "When can we go?" "Tomorrow?" "We had to make some improvements." "Well, alterations." " We have seven children." " Yes, of course." "It's just... it's a pity the roses are gone." "The children must have a place to play." "Fresh air prepares the mind for God." "Better than all that book-reading, that's what I say." "Precisely my very words." "We have to get back to simple truth." "Forget about all this intellectualism, this questioning." "This... dissenting?" "Like my father?" "Is that what you mean?" "Well, no!" "Well, yes." "I thought we ought to keep things simple." "Ignorant?" "Uneducated?" "Is that what you mean?" "I'm sure the world would be a better place!" "Miss Hale has been in the North, where life is a little more..." "Well, more wild." "Why are you smiling?" "I was thinking of Mrs. Thornton, of how she'd love to be called wild!" "Oh, dear!" "I nearly lost my temper." "Yes, I'm afraid this trip has not gone as I'd wished." "I'm sorry." "When we first arrived in Milton I was guilty of romanticizing the South." "I've got to work hard at not doing the opposite." "No, I can't have this!" "Mrs. Thornton being wild is bad enough." "But romantic?" "No, no." "You wouldn't call Milton romantic in any way at all, surely?" "Mr. Bell." "When Mother was dying, Frederick came to Milton." "We were very secret." "You know why." "He left before the funeral." "I went with him to the station and we were seen." " By Mr. Thornton." " I see." "Ah." "You were seen embracing at the station late at night." "I see." "No, no." "That... that's not the worst of it." "A man approached Frederick, someone that knew him." "He fell and died later." "Someone had seen me and I..." "had to lie to the police inspector." "Well, Frederick didn't cause this man's death?" "No, no." "I..." "I lied." "I was worried because he was still in the country." "I lied and... and Mr. Thornton knows it." "Is Frederick safe now?" "Yes." "Yes, he's married now." "Settled down in Cadiz." "Sometimes I think I'll never see him again." "But that's not why you're upset?" "No, it's just..." "I hate to think..." "I hate to think Mr. Thornton thinks badly of me." "Are you sure that's all?" "I thought it was going to be such a lovely day." "Look." "Perhaps I could have a word with Thornton, though I'm afraid he doesn't think much of me." "Oh, no, no." "I don't want him to know about Fred." "I do sometimes wish he knew, but don't say anything." "Please." "I don't know what I want." "Very well." "Let us think of other things." "You know, Margaret," "I had an idea when your father died of..." "looking after you." "You have." "You are." "No, you don't quite understand." "I rather hoped you would wish to look after me as well." "I never thought to have a wife." "Too busy being an Oxford academic." "Anyway, I hoped." "Oh, but that doesn't matter." "I promised your father I would take care of you." "Now, I often think how depressing it would be if one were to leave one's fortune to people who were waiting around hoping you would die off." "So, I mean to sign over the bulk of my monies and property to you now." " No, I can't." "I will not!" " Yes, you will." "I am going back to South America to live out the rest of my life in perfect peace and prosperity, knowing you are putting my money to good use." "I couldn't." "What about you?" "Well, something I've been trying to ignore." "My trip to London was not just to see you, my dear." "I... saw my doctor." "Oh, shh." "You must think of me living the life under the Argentine skies." "Not many men can plan their exit from this world in such a leisurely way." "Come now, we must cheer up." "If we go now we'll be in London in time for dinner." "Now, I'm in very great need of good food." "So, I'm almost at the end of sorting my business affairs." " When do you sail?" " On Wednesday." "I shall be pleased to be warmed by the sun again." "I spent much of my youth there." "Yes, I have signed all my property and fortune to my goddaughter Miss Hale." "I have no other family and Hale is my oldest friend." "South America." "Won't you need money to live on?" "Oh, I have sufficient for a very good life there." "What remains of it." " I am sorry." " Thank you, but don't be." "I consider myself lucky to be able to settle my own affairs." "To know that Miss Hale is secure will ease my heart in these last few months." "By the way, Miss Hale is unlikely to bother you or to interfere." "She is landlord in name only." "Even if Miss Hale were minded to interfere, she has little enough opinion of me." "There may not be much left for her to interfere with." "I'm sorry." "There is nothing more I can do." "I have left business behind me." "I sail on Wednesday." "You might be mistaken, Thornton, if you think Miss Hale has a bad opinion of you." "And you might not judge her as harshly as you do." "In fact..." "As you say, Mr. Bell, your business in Milton's finished." "And now the future of this mill is no concern of yours." "I'm afraid I'm busy, too." "Good day." "I think Margaret is looking so much better." "Don't you, Dixon?" "Yes, miss." "Now we're back in London." "I'm so glad she decided to stay with us in Harley Street, even though now she's quite the heiress." "She's looking much like her old self." "What do you think, Henry?" "I think Margaret looks very well." "Now she's so rich, if you don't ask her soon we'll have a job keeping others away." "I will try her when I'm ready." "It's really none of your concern." "As it is, I'm helping her with business matters." "She will use some of her money to help Frederick." "I hope you can." "She will love you for ever!" "Margaret." "We're engaged at the Pipers' on Saturday." "Oh, dear!" "I know that look." "Margaret is about to tell us something and we cannot argue." "She had that look on her face when she insisted on giving up dancing lessons when we were nine." " Margaret, what's wrong?" " Nothing." "But Edith is right." "I'm so grateful to you, Aunt, for taking me in." "But I've been back in London for a long time now." "I'm of age and I am of means." "Henry is helping me to understand my financial affairs and responsibilities." "We are trying to help Frederick." "We will probably not succeed, but it would have pleased Mother and Father that we are trying." "It is time for me to take responsibility for my life." "You want to leave us?" "Sholto would cry so!" "No." "But I would like to make my own decisions for my day-to-day life." "I would like to keep to my room if I wish." "I would like not to go to the Pipers if I wish." "And I don't." "I... can't stand them." "I don't like London society." "I learnt something when I went back to Helstone, expecting it to be the paradise I knew as a child." "Try as we might, happy as we were, we can't go back." "I told you." "I was right and John was wrong." "For once you must admit I was right." "If you'd invested in Watson's scheme, you'd have made thousands." "Enough to get out of trouble!" "Admit it." "I will ask Watson if he will lend John some money but he was very angry when John would not join him in the venture." "He says a gentleman must pay his own way!" "And you can think again about Ann Latimer!" "I'm sure she won't have you now." "You mustn't mind losing the house, Mother." "I don't mind about the house." "I care about you." "Thank God Fanny's taken care of." "It'll just be you and I again." " I have excellent news." " Really?" "You have made money." "What, since yesterday?" "While I slept?" "How clever of me!" " Money makes money." " I would rather earn it and put it to good use." "Margaret!" "You're sounding a little..." "Well, I hate to notice but a little revolutionary." "Mr. Bell was a shrewd fellow." "He bought into a 100-1 investment with a chap named Watson." " Watson?" "Fanny Thornton's husband?" " The very one." "Being hailed as wonder boy." "Probably a nine-days wonder, but nevertheless Fanny's struck gold." "Which is more than we can say for her brother." "Oh?" "He wouldn't have anything to do with it." "Far too principled." "Might just be the last straw." "I'm afraid you'll soon be looking for a new tenant, Margaret." ""What a nice Christmas present it will be," said Charlotte." ""But I hope..."" " Where's Higgins?" " He's finishing off something." ""Mr. Arnott will..." ""...sometimes bring her cart into..."" "I said, have you heard owt about Miss Margaret?" "Still here." "Just because it's the last shift, Master, doesn't mean we shouldn't finish the job well." "I am nobody's master any more, Higgins." "If you're ever in a position to take on workers again there's a fair number of us who'd be happy to run a mill for you." "I got up a petition to collect the names." "Anyway, I was asking about Miss Margaret." "Have you heard how she's doing?" "She's well." "She's in London." "We'll not see her again." "I thought she might have gone to Spain." " Why would she go there?" " To see her brother, now he's her only family." "Her brother?" "She doesn't have a brother." "Him that were over when their mother were dying." "Kept it a secret, they did." "My Mary used to fetch things for them." "She's a quiet girl, but she talks to me." " Why wouldn't Mr. Hale tell me he had a son?" " Something to do with the law." "Found himself on the wrong side of the Navy." "In real danger, he was." "He was her brother." "Well." "Thornton?" "I'll bid you good day." "Goodbye, Higgins." "Good luck." "Henry?" "I wonder, would you help me?" "I've decided I need to go to Milton and I'd like you to come with me." "Of course." "Whatever I may do." "I'm..." "I'm at your service." "Always." "Yes." "Yes!" "He's not here, if you've come to crow over him." "He's not here." "Come to look over your possessions, have you?" "And he's worked all his life for them." "You once accused me of not knowing what kind of man I'd rejected." "And you were right." "But if you think I've come to triumph over him, that I don't feel keenly the misfortune of this empty place then you don't know me at all." "I don't know where he is." "Don't think I'm worried for myself." "He'll see me right." "He always has." "There's a ten-minute stop here." "Sorry for the delay, but we're halfway back to London." "I think we have to wait for a northbound train to pass." "Where are you going?" "To London." "I..." "I've been to Milton." "You'll not guess where I've been." "You've been to Helstone?" " I thought those had all gone!" " I found it in the hedgerow." "You have to look hard." "Why were you in Milton?" "On business." "Well, that is, I have a business proposition." "Oh, dear!" "I need Henry to help me explain." "You don't need Henry to explain." "I..." "I have to get this right." "It's a business proposition." "I have some £15,000." "It is lying in the bank at present, earning very little interest." "Now, my financial advisers tell me that if you were to take this money and use it to run Marlborough Mills you could give me a very much better rate of interest." "So, you see, it is only a business matter." "You'd not be obliged to me in any way." "It is you who would be doing me the service." "London train about to depart." "London train is about to depart." "Henry, I..." "Goodbye, Margaret." "You're coming home with me?" "Ripped by:" "SkyFury" "What a business this wedding has been, what an expense." "You know, sometimes, my dear sister, I envy you your little country parsonage." "You two married for love, I know." "Now, of course, Edith can afford to do that." "Go on, Captain!" "Dance!" "Dance with your bride." " You are bored, Miss Margaret." " No." " I'm tired." " Oh." "I'm exhausted." "And a little too grown-up for ornaments like this." "When I get married, I want to wake up on a sunny day, put on my favorite dress and just walk to the church." "There." "There." "Is that better?" "I think you look very well." "You would look very well whatever you wore." "I love my cousin dearly." "I've been very happy in this house." "But I'll be even happier to go home to Helstone." "Ah, the wonderful Helstone." "You cannot be kept away?" "No." "I cannot." "It's the best place on earth." "Margaret." "Is that you?" "M..." "Mr. Lennox." "W... what's happened?" " Is it Edith?" "Some accident?" " No, no, calm yourself." "No such calamity." "I have come to visit paradise as you suggested." "Well..." "Mr. Lennox." "Y..." "You'd better sit down." "This is home." "Mama, you remember Mr. Lennox?" "Oh, yes." "Yes." "Yes, of course, I..." "I could walk this route with my eyes closed." "I've been visiting Father's parishioners since I was a very small girl." "Did you hear what I just said?" "Sorry, I..." "I was just remembering your prescription for a perfect wedding." ""I should like to walk to church on a sunny morning."" "Was this the path you were describing?" "Why, yes, I suppose so, I... wasn't actually thinking of MY wedding, you understand." " I was wondering, Margaret, whether..." " Please, don't won whether you might consider making that walk, sharing that morning with one who..." "Please, listen." "Please." "Don't continue." "I'm sorry." "Excuse me." "I..." "You led me to believe that such an offer would not be unwelcome." "A London girl would know not to talk of wedding days in such ambiguous terms." "Excuse me, I... said nothing I am ashamed of." "I..." "I'm sorry if you have been mistaken in my affections for you." "Is there someone else, someone else you prefer?" "No." "I do like you, Henry." "But I am not ready to marry anyone." "You must believe that I mean what I say." "Henry, I I" " I'm sorry." "We'll be on the streets... in a strange place." "Mama, I told you, we'll stay at a hotel until we find a house." "It won't take long." "Perhaps Dixon and I could stay on the coast while you look." "Yes... as the misses is so delicate." "No, Maria." "Your place is with us." "It will not take us long to find a house." "My old college friend, Mr. Bell, has agreed to help." "He's already organized a list of potential pupils." "There'll be plenty of teaching for me." "There will be no people there like us in Milton." "How can there be?" "We will manage, Mother." "It's not another planet." "Outward, Milton!" "Outward, Milton!" "All change!" "All change for stations north!" "Why have we come here, Dixon?" "It's going to be awful." " I know it is." " Shh." " Outward, Milton!" " Dixon." "Take care and find a porter." "We have arrived." "All change!" "I see 'im!" "Porter!" "Take these, please." "We'll find a house faster separately." " Are you sure?" " Of course." "Eggs, fresh-laid eggs this mornin'!" "Come and get your eggs!" "Fresh fruits!" "Fresh fruits!" "Fruit and vegetables!" " Hello, how are you?" " All right." " The living room's quite spacious." " The property's not for me." "I'm enquiring on behalf of one of me master's business acquaintances." "The man is still living as a clergyman." "Or rather a former clergyman." "He's used to living simply." "He's never been a man of great property or fortune." " A matter of conscience, I believe." " Ah, conscience." "That never put bread on the table." " South, eh?" " Mm-hm." "A little, er... indiscretion took place, maybe?" "Well, they do say the Devil makes work for idle hands." "Maybe his hands weren't so idle." " He'll find things a mite different up north." " Oh, aye." "I'll make good the repairs, but the decoration's good enough." "What a business, eh?" "For a man to uproot his wife and child to Milton." "Conscience or no conscience, that's strange behavior." " Excuse me, madam, can I help you?" " My name is Margaret Hale." "Who are you?" "I'm Williams, Mr. Thornton's overseer." "He asked me to look out properties for your father." "How much is the rent for the year?" "Mr. Thornton will discuss it with your father." "No need to concern yourself." "I've no idea who your Mr. Thornton is." "I thank him for his trouble, but my father and I are sharing the task of securing a property." "I have spent two days viewing what Milton has to offer, so I have a fairly good idea of price." " Mr. Thornton thinks this will do very well." " Where is he?" " Excuse me?" " Take me to see this Mr. Thornton." "If he won't deal with me, I'll have to deal with him." " Does Mr. Thornton live here?" " Aye, but he'll be at work." "Stay here, miss." "I'll find Master." "Stephens!" "Put that pipe out!" "I saw you!" "Stephens!" "Stephens!" "Come here!" " Smoking again." " I wasn't!" " Where is it?" " I wasn't smoking, I swear." "Still warm." "I warned you." "No!" "No!" "Please, sir!" " Please don't..." "Please!" " You stupid... idiot!" " Please!" " Look at me!" " Look at me!" " Stop!" " Stop!" "Please, stop!" " Who are you?" "What are you doing in here?" " My name is Margaret Hale." " Miss Hale!" " Sorry, sir, I told her to stay in the office." " Get her out!" "Aye, crawl away on your belly!" "Please, sir..." "I have little ones." "You know the rules!" " My children will starve!" " Better they starve than burn to death!" "Get out before I call the police!" "Get that woman out of here!" "Please, miss." "Miss." "Miss, please." "Miss, please, miss..." "Please!" "My darling Margaret, we are back at last from our honeymoon in Corfu." "We've been away so long I'm almost fluent in Greek - or so the Captain says." "But you know, everything he says is always so agreeable." "Dear Margaret..." "Now I shall say something that will make you very angry, but I can't help it." "What was Uncle thinking of, taking you all so far away from home?" "Why on earth are you in that awful place where they make cotton, where no one who is anyone wishes to buy it?" "I am sure we'll always wear linen." "Dear Edith, I'm pleased to report that we've replaced the horrible wallpapers with altogether more agreeable colors." "Dixon has only - if you think this possible - grown in energy." "She has set herself the task of engaging an under-maid, but as yet there isn't anyone within a radius of 50 miles who is remotely suitable to wait on us hand and foot." "I'll sit, if you don't mind" "Hm." "You'll be expected to be well up before the family to light the fires." "I'm sorry, I'm not getting up at five in the morning." "And I'm not working for those wages." "I can get four shillings as a piecer at Hamper's." "Anyway, if you don't mind me asking, where's the money coming from to pay for me?" "This house must be £30 a year, and there's not much coming in from what I've heard." "I'll come and go as I please!" "And I don't need no bossy, jumped-up servant to tell me what's what and how to behave!" "You can keep your rotten job!" "Me, a servant, indeed" "I don't know what the master was thinking of, subjecting us to all this gossip!" "Margaret?" "What's the matter?" "There is some talk..." "Margaret?" "Margaret?" "What does she mean, talk?" "I did hear some people talking, when we were house-hunting." "About why we moved to Milton... so abruptly." "Why you left the church." "People are... talking?" "Well, it's only natural, after all, that people should wonder." "It's not usual for clergymen to leave their parish, travel hundreds of miles, as if to escape something." "Just because we follow you without question..." "It's from the bishop." " It's not about Frederick?" " No." "I keep that letter with me always." "To reassure me that I made the right decision." "I... is this all?" ""I ask that all rectors in the diocese of the New Forest" ""reaffirm their belief in the Book of Common Prayer."" "Exactly." "The effrontery!" "The man's ten years our junior." "He tries to treat us all like children." "But this is a formality, surely... to reaffirm." "My conscience will not let me." "I can and have lived quietly with my doubts for... well, for some years now, but..." "I cannot swear publicly to doctrines I am no longer sure of." "Now, we men of conscience have to make a stand." " We?" " Yes, there are others who have doubts." "We all agreed." "We could not reaffirm." "Are you telling me that all the rectors of the New Forest have decamped to industrial towns?" "Well... some thought it possible to yield, but..." "I did not." " How many?" "How many refused?" " I could not avoid it." "I was forced into it." "You must understand." "I understand." "I understood... that the very worst must have happened... that you had lost your faith... or that you felt that God wished you to preach His word in these new places." "That some very great matter must have happened to make you uproot us all, dragging us up to this God-forsaken place!" " Maria." " You gave up your livelihood our source of income on a formality." " It was not like that, Maria." "Really." "It IS not like that." "I already have work - teaching." "And I..." "I will find more." "And... and maybe I will discover that is my real vocation after all." "The people here don't want learning." "They don't want books and culture." "It's all money and smoke." "That's what they eat and breathe." "You're right, Edith." "Milton is very far from home, but it is quite an interesting and modern sort of place." "There are at least 20 mills, all very prosperous, in and around the town, and it's full of new industry of one sort or the other." "It is of course not remotely green like Helstone, and so large that I often lose my way." "But the people are friendly enough and there is nearly always someone to point me in the right direction." "'Ey up, what have we got here?" "Watch out, lass!" "'Scuse us!" "Please." "Please..." "Please don't." "Just stop." "Please... please stop." " Leave the lass alone." " Here y'are!" "Leave the lass alone." "She shouldn't take on so." "We were only having a bit of fun." "Come on, miss." "Be careful where you walk when the whistle sounds for the break." "But don't worry, they won't harm you." "They just like a bonny face." "And yours is a picture." "Come on." "I'm..." "I'm obliged to you." "Thank you, sir." "You're welcome, lass." "No charge, miss." "Get up!" "Hup, hup, hup!" "So this century was probably the most productive, simply in terms of the number..." "Father is working hard." "He teaches students and also lectures... though some of it is unpaid and, I fear, unwanted." " But he keeps happy." " Thank you." "Until, erm... next Sunday." "He entertains his private pupils at home." "We have to make a choice, John." "Now, it's difficult, I know." "Margaret?" "Is that you?" "Margaret!" "Come in, Margaret." "Come in." "Meet my new friend and first proper pupil," "Mr. Thornton." "This is my daughter, Margaret." "I believe we have already met." "Ah." "Now, Mr. Thornton can't decide between Aristotle and Plato." "I suggest we start with Plato and then move on." "What do you think?" "I'm afraid we met under unpleasant circumstances." "I dismissed a worker for smoking in the sorting room." "You beat a defenseless man." " Margaret." " No, she's right." "I have a temper." "Fire is the greatest danger in my mill." "I have to be strict." "A gentleman would not use his fists on such a... pathetic creature or shout at children." "I dare say a gentleman has not had to see 300 corpses laid out on a hillside as I did last May." "Many were children." "And that was an accidental flame." "The whole mill destroyed in 20 minutes." "I should go." " You'll join us for dinner next week?" " Oh, yes, of course." "Erm... thank you." "Erm... and we'll start with Plato next Tuesday." " I'll ask my mother to call when you're settled." " Of course, erm..." "By all means." "We're always here." "Aren't we, Margaret?" "I'll admit that Milton doesn't have any grand palaces or works of art, but it does have some pleasant parks where we take our daily walk and meet our friends, while the weather holds." " Are you following' me?" " No." "Well... yes." "I didn't mean any offence." "I recognized you from Marlborough Mills." "I recognize you." "Giving Thornton back as good as he gave." "You don't see that every day." " Well, I..." "I don't want to keep you." " What important appointments might I have" "I'm going to meet my father." "He works at Hamper's, a mile across town." " But you work at Marlborough Mills." " Yes." "It's nearer home." "And the work's easier." "Here's Father now." "Father?" "Young woman I told you about." "The day Thornton sent Stephens packing." "He deserved it." "Fool put everyone at risk." " You're not from this part of the world, are you?" " No." "I'm from the South." " From Hampshire." " Mm." "Beyond London, I reckon." "Mm." "Where do you live?" "We put up Frances Street, in Princeton." "Behind Golden Dragon." "And your name?" " My name is Margaret Hale." " My name is Nicholas Higgins." "This is my daughter Bessy." "Why do you ask?" "Well, I..." "I thought that I might come and bring a basket." "Excuse me." "At... at home, when my father was a clergyman..." "A basket?" "What would we want with a basket?" "We've little enough to put in it." "See, I don't much like strangers in my house." "I dare say in the South, a young lady feels she can wander into anyone's house whenever they feel like it." "Here, we wait to be asked into someone's parlor before we charge in." "Excuse me, Mr. Higgins, Bessy, I..." "I didn't mean any offence." "That's why I reckon you can come if you want, but you'll not remember us." "I'll bet on that." "Margaret!" "What's the matter?" "Are you unwell?" "It must be Mr. Thornton's mother." "Well, there's no mistaking that stern brow." "And that must be the sister." "What a deal of starch!" "It would take someone all day to iron that petticoat." "Where will we put them, Mama?" "I don't think the two of them will fit in here." "How exquisite." "I haven't seen English pointwork quite like that for years." "Our Milton craftsmanship can compare with the very best." "I suppose you are not musical, as I see no piano." "I am fond of music, but I cannot play well myself." "As you can see, this house would hardly bear a grand instrument." "We sold ours when we moved." "Yes, these rooms are far too small for entertaining." "Our staircases are wider than the whole width of this room." "I wonder how you can exist without a piano." "It almost seems to me a necessity of life." " There are concerts here, I believe." " Oh, yes." "Rather crowded." "They let in anybody." "But we have whatever is the fashion in London." "A little later, unfortunately." " You know London, of course." " Oh, yes." "I lived there with my aunt and cousin for a while." "Oh!" "London and the Alhambra." "They are the two places I long to see." "The Alhambra?" "Yes, ever since I read the "Tales of the Alhambra"." "Do you know them?" "Oh..." "I don't... think so." "But it's a very easy journey to London and not half so far." "Yes, but..." "Mama has never been to London." "She cannot understand why I long to go." "She's very proud of Milton." "Dirty, smoky place that it is." "I can't wait to leave." "May I ask why you chose to come and live in Milton?" "I mean... why did you leave wherever it was?" " Helstone." " Oh." "Well, it it-it was my husband's decision." "It was a matter of... of conscience." "But Mr. Hale is no longer a clergyman, I thought." "My husband very much enjoys his lessons with Mr. Thornton." "I think it makes him feel young again." "Classics are all very well for men who loiter life away in the country or in colleges." "But Milton men ought to have all their energies absorbed by today's work." "They should have one aim only." "Which is to maintain an honorable place amongst the merchants of this country." "Go where you will, the name of John Thornton in Milton, manufacturer and magistrate, is known and respected amongst all men of business." "And sought after by all the young women in Milton." "Not all of them, surely." "If you had a son like mine, Mrs. Hale, you would not be embarrassed to sing his praises." "If you can bear to visit our dirty, smoky home, we shall receive you next week." "Mrs. Thornton." "Well, what a splendid house!" "Erm..." "But, er... do you not find the proximity to the mill a little, erm well, noisy?" "Never." "I've not become so fine as to forget the source of my son's power and wealth." "The mill is everything." "There is no other factory like it in Milton." "This house is my son's achievement." "Did I tell you, Thornton, about the price of raw cotton in Le Havre?" " I believe you did." " Come on, Thornton." "Even you can spot a bargain." "Cotton's a great deal cheaper from the Caribbean." "I'll bet you Egyptian is still cheaper." "They can't offer those prices for long." "They'll be bankrupt in a year and our supply'll be interrupted." "I'd rather pay more for a steady supply through Liverpool." "We'll all lose in the end." "Thornton's as straight as they come." "He won't risk Malborough Mill, even if it means not speculating." "That's best, surely, with so many lives depending on the factory's success?" "Well... that would be the Christian way." "Hear the latest over clamoring for a new wheel?" " Thought you'd agreed to it." " I had." "First, the men threatened to turn out if I didn't install it." "It would've cost me £600." "It blows away the strands that fly off in the sorting rooms." " Helps keeps fluff off the workers' lungs." " So, what was the problem?" "Some workers claimed they'd need more money to work with a wheel." " What?" " Yes." "Believe me." "They heard it'd make 'em hungrier than they say they are!" " Make them hungry" " Yes." "There wouldn't be so much fluff to swallow, so their bellies'd be emptier." "Oh, yes." "So..." "Oh, and this is the beautiful part." "They said I'd have to pay 'em more." "Now the men can't agree to what they want, so I've been spared £600 and the men have themselves to thank for the carding rooms being like Christmas." "Come on, Thornton." "Surely you won't approve of workers telling you what to pay 'em?" "I've had a wheel in all my sheds for two years." " More fool you." "I can't see profit in it." " There is no immediate profit." " Not in pounds, shillings and pence." " But?" "Well, there is a "but", in't there?" "But... my workers are healthier." "Their lungs don't clog so easily." "They work for me longer." "And their children." "Even you'll see profit in that." "But surely, erm... it's the right path, also." "Sound business sense, Mr. Hale, and I cannot operate under any other moral law." "I do not run a charitable institution." "My workers expect me to be hard, but truthful." "I tell them how things are and they take it or leave it." " Harkness tries tricks with his." " You've got to keep them on their toes." "It's a war, and we masters have to win it or go under." "Hear, hear!" "Mama, I have a letter from Edith." "Would you like me to read it to you?" "She sends love from Aunt Shaw." "Your father prefers the company of Milton traders." "As if there wasn't enough to do already!" "We've got no help to speak of." "I have to do everything." "It's all the master's fault." "He took leave of his senses when he brought us here." "He is not the vicar of Helstone any more." "He has thrown away his position in society and brought us all down with him." "He'll be the death of us all!" "Dixon." "I know you love my mother, but you forget yourself." "Please don't talk about my father in that way." "It's not for you to question his motives or judgment." "You're a servant in this house." "Keep such thoughts to yourself, or you are free to go back to Helstone whenever you choose." "Like it or not... we are here." "I will help you." "You, Miss Margaret?" "In the kitchen?" "Yes." "Me." "I can learn to starch and iron, and I will until we find suitable help." "You'll do as I say, Dixon." "Excuse me." "I'm looking for Bessy Higgins." "I must have come in the wrong direction." "She's along the way, round the corner." "It's all right, she's not frightened of you." "She's hungry." "That's why she cries." "Bessy's just round the corner." "Excuse me, I thought Bessy Higgins lived here." "I'm sorry I didn't come earlier." "To tell you the truth, I didn't know that I would be welcome." "I thought groceries would be offensive." "But if I had come without anything..." "If there's a remote possibility of us finding offence, you can be sure we will." "We're very good at that in Milton." "I feel I've lived in Milton for quite some time now, but I still find myself constantly at fault whichever way I turn." "How long will it take for that to change?" "Oh, a couple of years at least, in your case." "Sorry..." "It's just I have a bit of cold I can't seem to shift." "She were right." "She said you'd come." "How was the meeting, Father?" "Do not worry on my account." "I have no one to tell any secrets to." "Well, your father the parson's been seen supping with the bosses." "Mr. Thornton is his pupil." "He's certainly not my friend." "And Boucher?" "He's our neighbor down the way." "He's holding up." "Just." "But he'll be with us when the fire goes up, if he knows what's good for him." "Miss, your father teaches at the Lyceum Hall, doesn't he?" "Yes, he does." "Sunday afternoons." "Mother, remember I go to the Hales this evening." "I will be home to dress, but then out till late." "Dress?" "Why should you dress up to take tea with an old parson?" "Ex-parson" "Mr. Hale is a gentleman and his daughter is an accomplished young lady." "Don't worry, Mother." "I'm in no danger from Miss Hale." "She's very unlikely to consider me a catch." "She's from the South." "She doesn't care for our Northern ways." "Airs and graces" "What business has she?" "A renegade clergyman's daughter, who's now only fit to play at giving useless lectures to those who do not wish to hear them." "What right has she to turn up her nose at you?" "Board up the windows." "There'll be a storm later." "All motion and energy, but a thing of beauty." "The classics should be rewritten to include it." "I'm afraid we're boring Miss Hale with our enthusiasm for Arkwright." "No." "Indeed, I'm sure it's fascinating." "I'm a little tired, that's all." "Er..." "Mr. Thornton has been admiring our newly redecorated rooms, Maria." "Oh." "Yes, Mr. Thornton." "Erm... well, there wasn't a great deal of choice, but these papers are of a similar shade to our drawing room in Helstone." "But not quite." "Well, on behalf of Milton taste, I'm glad we've almost passed muster." "Yes." "Yes, well... clearly, you're very proud of Milton." "My husband admires its energy and its its people are... very busy making their businesses successful." "I won't deny it." "I'd rather be toiling here, success or failure, than leading a dull, prosperous life in the South, with their slow, careless days of ease." "You are mistaken." "You don't know anything about the South." "It..." "It may be a little less energetic in its pursuit of competitive trade, but there is less suffering than I have seen in your mills." "And all for what?" " We make cotton." " Which no one wants to wear." "I think that I might say that you do not know the North." "We masters are not all the same, whatever your prejudice against Milton men." "I've seen you treat your men as you wish because they are beneath you." "No, I do not." "You've been blessed with good luck and fortune, but others have not." "I do know something of hardship." "16 years ago, my father died... in very miserable circumstances." "I became the head of the family very quickly." "I was taken out of school." "I think that I might say that my only good luck was to have a mother of such strong will and integrity." "I went to work in a draper's shop and my mother managed so that I could put three shillings aside a week." "That taught me self-denial." "Now I'm able to keep my mother in such comfort as her age requires, and I thank her every day for that early training." "So, Miss Hale, I do not think that I was especially blessed with good fortune or luck." " I have outstayed my welcome." " Oh, no, John." "Come, Miss Hale, let's part friends despite our differences." "If we become more familiar with each other's traditions, we may learn to be more tolerant, I think." " I'll see myself out." " Please." "Please come again, John." "Margaret." "The handshake is used up here in all forms of society." "I think you gave Mr. Thornton real offence by refusing to take his hand." "I'm sorry, Father." "I'm sorry I'm so slow to learn the rules of civility in Milton, but I'm tired." "I have spent the day washing curtains so that Mr. Thornton should feel at home." "So, please, excuse me if I misunderstood the handshake." "I am sure in London, a gentleman would never expect a lady to take his hand like that, all... unexpectedly." "And I didn't know where to look when he talked about his past." "His father might have died in the workhouse." "I think it might have been worse than that." "According to my friend Mr. Bell, his father speculated wildly and lost." "He, erm... he was swindled by a business partner in London." "He, erm he killed himself." "Because he couldn't bear the disgrace." "Mother and son and daughter lived on nothing for years so that the creditors could be repaid, long after they'd given up any hope of settlement." "Margaret?" "I think it very fine, Father." "I am sorry to have offended your friend." "And I must go to bed." " Put him down." "He's one of ours, isn't he?" " Boucher?" "He's Thornton's." "Aren't you interested, Thornton?" "All mills together, if you please." "We need to show we know what they're up to." "Let them meet, if that's how they want to spend their leisure time." " We're all trying to work together, Thornton." " Are we?" " What does that mean?" " I overheard some of my men talking." "It seems you're planning to give in to them." "We agreed." "We'd all be in line." "So that the men would know we meant business and know that we kept our word." "Well, I..." "Father?" "Well!" "My, er... pupils asked if they could use the hall for... a special meeting." "Who am I to force ecclesiastical architecture on them?" "Quiet!" "Quiet, please!" "Friends... welcome." "Now, this is the first time we have ever gathered together." "Now, don't worry, you'll all get a chance to speak, as long as we take our turn." "Now, I'm Nicholas Higgins." "I work up at Hamper's Mill." "Now, there's quite a few of us." "There's some men from Thornton's and Marlborough Mill." "Where's Henderson's?" "What about Slickson's?" "Now... up at Hamper's... we've got a lot of work." "Orders are flooding in, and cheap cotton to meet them." "Now, there's those of us that know that soon, bosses'll be telling us although they're making a fat profit... they can't make our pay what it were five years ago!" "Now, they'll have a load of excuses." "It's all because cotton's suddenly become expensive." "This or that bit of machinery's packed up." "The buyers can't pay so there's no money to pay us!" " You've all heard it before!" " Aye, the bosses make their own rules!" "Henderson says one thing, Hamper another!" "Different from one week t' next!" " What's to stop 'em cutting pay again?" " Aye!" "And if we quit over wages, there's more'll take our places!" "Aye!" "That is why we must all work together, because next time one of our bosses plays tricks, we'll all know about it." "And if we all decide on a fair wage, and none of us work for less, then for once, WE'LL have a say!" "What if they don't like it, eh?" "What do we do then?" "What do we do then?" "Boucher." "It, er... it's all right some of you talking brave." "Nicholas here earns - what?" "15, 16 shilling a week?" "He's only three to keep on it." "My wife's sick," "I have six children, none of them old enough for factory work." "If I turn out, we'll not be able to live on five shillings strike pay from the union." "My children... they'll starve." "Look, I'm not saying that we're coming out today." "I'm not saying that we're coming out tomorrow." "What I'm saying is... when the time comes... we will be ready." "And we will stick together!" "Margaret, erm..." "I know you and your mother feel I let you down." " Father, no." " No." "You do." "I know." "But I hope you'll realize that the people up here... they aren't so very different." "You know?" "They just have different ways." " Master." " What are you doing here?" " I beg you to take me back..." " Get out!" "I were at the meeting this evening." "I can tell you what they're planning." " Please, sir..." " Get out!" "Don't come near here again!" " Who's there?" " It's only us." " I promise you..." " Get away from here!" " Couldn't you show a little mercy?" " Mr. Hale." "Please." "Do not try to tell me my business." "Remember, they do things differently here." "Come, Father." "I wish I could tell you, Edith, how lonely I am... how cold and harsh it is here." "Everywhere, there is conflict and... unkindness." "I think God has forsaken this place." "I believe I have seen hell and it's white." "It's snow-white." "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." "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."