, others whitening them with chalk, and
some putting on the women's cloaks, bonnets, or aprons.

Then they collected Uphill men.

"We are come for your good," said Jack Swing, or the man who passed for
him, wearing a long Punch-like nose. "We are come to help you; and
where's the mean coward that won't come along with us in his own cause?
There will be no living for poor folks if those new-fangled machines be
allowed to go on, and them Parliament folk vote out all that makes for
the people. Down with them, I say! Up with Reform, and down with all
the fools and cowards who won't stand up for themselves."

All this, garnished with foul words and abuse, and roared out from the
top of the horse-block, was addressed to the crowd that began to gather.

Dan Hewlett, with a horrid white face, was going about persuading the
men, and so were others. "Bless you, we don't want to do no harm to the
ladies, nor the children. We only wants to do away with them toady
machines, as they wants to do all the work instead of men's hands, as
the Almighty meant, and is in Scripture."

This was the plea to the better disposed, like Tom Seddon, who held out,
"You'll not hurt madam nor the little ones. She've been a kind lady,
and the captain, he's a good master, I will say that; and I don't want
to hurt 'em."

"Nobody wants to hurt them; only to do away with they machines."

"I tell you what," was George Truman's answer, "them machines are the
captain's, none of yours nor mine, and I won't go for to damage 'em.
No! I won't have my face blacked nor whited, I'm an honest man, and not
ashamed to show it. So I be going to my work."

And off he went to his day's work at Farmer Goodenough's, and the others
hissed him and hooted him, but did him no harm. Nobody made such a
noise as Softy Sam, and together this frightened Jem Gibbs out of
following him, though he much wished to do so. Will Mole, as soon as he
heard any sounds, ran away headlong down towards the meadows, and hid
himself in the long rushes. Cox, the constable, thought discretion the
better part of valour; and long before the rabble rout appeared, set off
to carry a pair of shoes home to Mrs Pearson at the Lone Farm.

Master Hewlett, the carpenter, looked in vain for John, his apprentice,
and growled and grumbled that he did not appear; then, on perceiving the
uproar, decided that he was gone after that "there father of his'n." He
wouldn't have thought it of Jack. No