,
"Five--thou--sand?"

Jael nodded.

"Five thousand pounds," said Henry, as bold as brass.

"Five thousand pounds!" cried Mr. Carden. "A workman insure his life for
five thousand pounds!"

"Well, a man's life is worth five thousand pounds, or it is worth
nothing. And, sir, how long do you think I shall be a workman,
especially in Hillsborough, where from workman to master is no more than
hopping across a gutter?"

Mr. Carden smiled approval. "But five thousand pounds! The annual
premium will be considerable. May I ask about how much you make a year?"

"Oh, papa!"

"Well, sir, Mr. Cheetham pays me L300 a year, at the rate of, and I can
make another L100 by carving at odd times. But, if you doubt my ability,
let us stay as we are, sir. It was your proposal, not mine, you know."

"Young man," said Mr. Carden, "never be peppery in business." He
said this so solemnly and paternally, it sounded like the eleventh
commandment.

To conclude, it was arranged Henry should take the higher class of
insurance, which provided for accidents, voyages, everything, and should
be insured for L5000, provided the physician appointed by the company
should pronounce him free from disease.

Henry then rose, and said, sorrowfully, to Grace, "You will not see me
here very often now; and never on Saturday afternoon or Monday morning.
I am not going to have some blackguard tracking me, and flinging a
can of gunpowder in at your window. When I do come, it will be in the
morning, and on a working day; and I shall perhaps go ten miles round
to get here. It must be diamond cut diamond, for many a month to come,
between the Trades and me." He uttered these words with manly gravity,
as one who did not underrate the peril he was resolved to face; and left
them with a respectful bow.

"That's a rising man," said Mr. Carden; "and may draw a hundred of his
class to the 'Gosshawk.' It was a good stroke of business, quite out of
the common."

Grace said not a word, but she shook her head and looked pained and ill
at ease. Jael watched her fixedly.

Henry called at the works that night, and examined the new defenses,
with Mr. Cheetham. He also bought a powerful magnifying-glass; and next
morning he came to the factory, examined the cinders, and everything
else, with the magnifier, lighted his forge, and resumed his work.

At dinner-time he went out and had his chop, and read the Liberal; it
contained a letter from Jobson, in reply to the edit