ed.

"Why, I suppose you know," said Hatton, "I heard as usual."

"From his usual place?" inquired Morley.

"I wish you would tell me where that is," said Hatton, eagerly.

"Why, he writes to you?"

"Blank letters; never had a line except once, and that is more than
twelve year ago. He sends me a twenty-pound note every Christmas; and
that is all I know about him."

"Then he is rich, and well to do in the world? said Morley."

"Why, don't you know?" said Hatton; "I thought you came from him!"

"I came about him. I wished to know whether he were alive, and that you
have been able to inform me: and where he was; and that you have not
been able to inform me."

"Why, you're a regular muff!" said the bishop.

Book 3 Chapter 8

A few days after his morning walk with Sybil, it was agreed that
Egremont should visit Mr Trafford's factory, which he had expressed
a great desire to inspect. Gerard always left his cottage at break of
dawn, and as Sybil had not yet paid her accustomed visit to her friend
and patron, who was the employer of her father, it was arranged that
Egremont should accompany her at a later and more convenient hour in the
morning, and then that they should all return together.

The factory was about a mile distant from their cottage, which belonged
indeed to Mr Trafford, and had been built by him. He was the younger son
of a family that had for centuries been planted in the land, but who,
not satisfied with the factitious consideration with which society
compensates the junior members of a territorial house for their
entailed poverty, had availed himself of some opportunities that offered
themselves, and had devoted his energies to those new sources of wealth
that were unknown to his ancestors. His operations at first had been
extremely limited, like his fortunes; but with a small capital, though
his profits were not considerable, he at least gained experience. With
gentle blood in his veins, and old English feelings, he imbibed, at an
early period of his career, a correct conception of the relations which
should subsist between the employer and the employed. He felt that
between them there should be other ties than the payment and the receipt
of wages.

A distant and childless relative, who made him a visit, pleased with
his energy and enterprise, and touched by the development of his social
views, left him a considerable sum, at a moment too when a great opening
was offered to manufac