登陆注册
15422500000189

第189章 CHANGES AT MILTON (2)

For many months, the embarrassment caused by the strike had been an obstacle in Mr. Thornton's way; and often, when his eye fell on Higgins, he could have spoken angrily to him without any present cause, just from feeling how serious was the injury that had arisen from this affair in which he was implicated. But when he became conscious of this sudden, quick resentment, he resolved to curb it. It would not satisfy him to avoid Higgins; he must convince himself that he was master over his own anger, by being particularly careful to allow Higgins access to him, whenever the strict rules of business, or Mr. Thornton's leisure permitted. And by-and-bye, he lost all sense of resentment in wonder how it was, or could be, that two men like himself and Higgins, living by the same trade, working in their different ways at the same object, could look upon each other's position and duties in so strangely different a way. And thence arose that intercourse, which though it might not have the effect of preventing all future clash of opinion and action, when the occasion arose, would, at any rate, enable both master and man to look upon each other with far more charity and sympathy, and bear with each other more patiently and kindly. Besides this improvement of feeling, both Mr. Thornton and his workmen found out their ignorance as to positive matters of fact, known heretofore to one side, but not to the other. But now had come one of those periods of bad trade, when the market falling brought down the value of all large stocks; Mr. Thornton's fell to nearly half. No orders were coming in; so he lost the interest of the capital he had locked up in machinery; indeed, it was difficult to get payment for the orders completed; yet there was the constant drain of expenses for working the business. Then the bills became due for the cotton he had purchased; and money being scarce, he could only borrow at exorbitant interest, and yet he could not realise any of his property. But he did not despair;he exerted himself day and night to foresee and to provide for all emergencies;he was as calm and gentle to the women in his home as ever; to the workmen in his mill he spoke not many words, but they knew him by this time; and many a curt, decided answer was received by them rather with sympathy for the care they saw pressing upon him, than with the suppressed antagonism which had formerly been smouldering, and ready for hard words and hard judgments on all occasions. 'Th' measter's a deal to potter him,' said Higgins, one day, as he heard Mr. Thornton's short, sharp inquiry, why such a command had not been obeyed; and caught the sound of the suppressed sigh which he heaved in going past the room where some of the men were working. Higgins and another man stopped over-hours that night, unknown to any one, to get the neglected piece of work done; and Mr. Thornton never knew but that the overlooker, to whom he had given the command in the first instance, had done it himself 'Eh! I reckon I know who'd ha' been sorry for to see our measter sitting so like a piece o' grey calico! Th' ou'd parson would ha' fretted his woman's heart out, if he'd seen the woeful looks I have seen on our measter's face,'

thought Higgins, one day, as he was approaching Mr. Thornton in Marlborough Street. 'Measter,' said he, stopping his employer in his quick resolved walk, and causing that gentleman to look up with a sudden annoyed start, as if his thoughts had been far away. 'Have yo' heerd aught of Miss Marget lately?' 'Miss--who?' replied Mr. Thornton. 'Miss Marget--Miss Hale--th' oud parson's daughter--yo known who I mean well enough, if yo'll only think a bit--' (there was nothing disrespectful in the tone in which this was said). 'Oh yes!' and suddenly, the wintry frost-bound look of care had left Mr.

Thornton's face, as if some soft summer gale had blown all anxiety away from his mind; and though his mouth was as much compressed as before, his eyes smiled out benignly on his questioner. 'She's my landlord now, you know, Higgins. I hear of her through her agent here, every now and then. She's well and among friends--thank you, Higgins.'

That 'thank you' that lingered after the other words, and yet came with so much warmth of feeling, let in a new light to the acute Higgins. It might be but a will-o'-th'-wisp, but he thought he would follow it and ascertain whither it would lead him. 'And she's not getten married, measter?' 'Not yet.' The face was cloudy once more. 'There is some talk of it, as I understand, with a connection of the family.' 'Then she'll not be for coming to Milton again, I reckon.' 'No!' 'Stop a minute, measter.' Then going up confidentially close, he said, 'Is th' young gentleman cleared?' He enforced the depth of his intelligence by a wink of the eye, which only made things more mysterious to Mr. Thornton. 'Th' young gentleman, I mean--Master Frederick, they ca'ad him--her brother as was over here, yo' known.' 'Over here.' 'Ay, to be sure, at th' missus's death. Yo' need na be feared of my telling;for Mary and me, we knowed it all along, only we held our peace, for we got it through Mary working. in th' house.' 'And he was over. It was her brother!' 'Sure enough, and I reckoned yo' knowed it or I'd never ha' let on. Yo'

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 黑与白总在一刹那

    黑与白总在一刹那

    有时间就写一个小短篇,这个是一个短篇合集,灵感来源于生活,我并不能保证整个短篇合集是什么样的,或者说,我每天能更新多少,一切都看生活给予我的灵感,第一篇小短文灵感来源于前两天的万圣节,我走在路上正在发信息的时候,被一个鬼屋外面发传单的四个人吓着了。
  • 健康长寿食为天

    健康长寿食为天

    本书作者为饮食保健专家,吸取了近年来国内外最新饮食安全及保健成果,结合多年的健康饮食工作经验,围绕饮食安全、合理搭配、科学制作等细节进行了系统阐述,重点介绍了日常饮食应遵循合理膳食、营养平衡;从小处着手,吃好每顿饭,做好每一个菜,安排好一日三的餐食物搭配,同时书中还介绍了人体所需要的七大营养素及吃五谷杂粮、蔬菜、水果的学问等。其内容科学实用,知识性,实用性,可操作性强,适合大大众阅读。
  • 寒水堂

    寒水堂

    从见识浅薄、资质平庸的末等弟子,到冠绝武林、风华无双的奇异士,他经历世间苦厄,失去至亲好友。在沉默中蜕变,修武道、动朝堂、斗权臣。他的选择,究竟是恩比天大的灵巧女子,还是情逾海深的红颜知己?再入江湖,机关算尽,到底为了个什么目的?既有晦暗诡谲,也有明亮动人,一切谜底,正在解开……
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 笑傲灵玄

    笑傲灵玄

    高级特功袁烨,与同伴海外一次特殊任务中,归途路经人间地狱百慕大,遇神秘百慕大鬼异事件,为完成任务,舍身救友。醒来后却发现身处奇幻异界灵玄大陆,可没想到自己变成一个十五岁且天生寒骨冰脉无法修练的太子-轩辕烨。幸好天见可怜,轩辕烨得到绝世宝典,不但自我治疗寒骨冰脉,且修为大进。不断巩固自己的地位,保卫国家安定。可是修为越高,见识越多,最后竟发现自己轩辕家族一直延续着上古时期的一项关系整个灵玄大陆生死存亡的秘密任务……
  • TFBOYS之樱花的泪

    TFBOYS之樱花的泪

    看不到你,我会想你!找不到你,我会着急!你生气,我真的在意!你伤心,我也会难过!如果没有了你,我的人生就没有了意义!这些,你都明白吗?傻丫头!如果可以,我宁愿从来没有和你相遇……遇见你,是我今生最大的幸运,也是我最大的不幸。你的存在,一点点侵蚀着我的命。
  • 心丢在了布拉格

    心丢在了布拉格

    人群中互看一眼,转身离开。这是我们第一次见面。只觉得眼熟的第二次见面,却还是不了了之。我们经常从别人口中了解对方,却从没再相见。有一天,你抬头看向人群中走来的我。有一天,我拥着你就像拥有了属于你的世界。有一天,我们手拉手谱写属于我们的未来。有一天,我们一起坐在梧桐树下,感慨我们的过往,庆幸的是,我们再次相遇,再次交集,不分离。他们情定于布拉格,苏凉最爱的地方。(2016栗末最暖情书,一对只相见一次面的青梅竹马。暖暖的爱,在这个夏天慢慢展开)
  • 乱世英雄旷世情

    乱世英雄旷世情

    原名《侠侣降魔传》。他尚未出世,就祸从天降,流落异国他乡,误入唐人谷,被日本臭名昭著的黑龙会盯上了,陷入人生危机;王五识破了黑龙会的阴谋,与其母商议后,与其毅然回国........她,一个自幼失去母爱的女孩,不仅见识广泛,而且机灵乖巧,竟然在除夕来临之际,偷走了父亲的心爱之物——鱼肠剑,人送外号“降魔花”,日伪人员都怕,与人赌咒发誓皆说:“谁要不凭良心,让谁出门就碰上降魔花!”而来自异国的另一个她却说:“大砍刀、鱼肠剑是用来降魔的,而我不是侵略者,不是魔,是朋友!这一辈子,我跟定你了!哪怕你与她结婚了,我也不放弃!绝不!”——面对种种感情纠葛,面对邪恶与正义,该如何面对?面对着种种魔难与屈辱,在亲情,友情,家仇国恨面前,又该怎么办?是妥协?是抗争?是为了爱?是为了恨?爱恨二字,千古谁能说得清楚?另一部《北斗师徒历险记》正在连载,请光临!
  • 逃离完美

    逃离完美

    “在这里,没有什么问题是毒品解决不了的,如果有,那你就试着换个纯度高点儿的吧。”笔锋藏拙,逻辑严谨,展示一个格局庞大的未来版乌托邦。热血坚韧,足智呆萌,巧夺天工的紧凑剧情。深思未来,浅忆过往,入骨三分的铁汉柔情。《逃离完美》带你领略未来世界倭寇是如何的认祖归宗,匍匐脚下。世界上所有利益的对立,与其通过弱肉强食的丛林法则,不如按照完美世界的规则进行变通,正所谓堵不如疏,化对立为协同,使不满为知足。“你是否愿意用三年的极乐权了结余生”——这是完美集团的召唤。
  • 时光流过,我们却不曾告别

    时光流过,我们却不曾告别

    你我相遇就是一场梦,而我却不愿醒来。那次我们没能好好告别,这次就好好的告别一次吧!