dent over he became comparatively sanguine and cheerful.
As Floxham had predicted, when the work-bell called the hands together again there were still other places vacant. Mr. Briarley, it may be observed, had been absent all day, and by this time was listening with affectionate interest and spasmodic attacks of inopportune enthusiasm to various inflammatory speeches which were being made at a beer house.
Toward evening the work lagged so that the over-lookers could no longer keep up the semblance of ignorance. A kind of gloom settled upon them also, and they went about with depressed faces.
"It'll be all up to-morrow," said one, "if there's nothing done."
But something was done.
Suddenly—just before time for the last bell to ring—Haworth appeared at the door of the principal room.
"Lads!" he shouted, "them on you as wants a speech from Jem Haworth gather in th' yard in five minutes from now."
There was no more work done. The bell began to ring; implements were thrown down and a shout went up from the crowd. Then there was a rush into the yard, and in less than the five minutes the out-pouring of the place thronged about its chief doorway where Jem Haworth stood on the topmost step, looking down, facing them all, boldly—with the air of a man who felt his victory more than half won.
"Let's hear what tha'st getten to say," cried some one well hidden by the crowd. "Out wi' it."
"It's not much," Haworth shouted back. "It's this to start with. I'm here to find out where you chaps stand."
