.

"But, sir, I can't bear that your own workman should see you so
agitated."

"Oh, I shall be all right the moment I see my man before me."

Bayne went off, and soon returned with Redcar. The man had his coat on,
but had not removed his leathern apron.

Cheetham received him as the representative of the Unions. "Sit down,
Redcar, and let us put an end to this little bother. What do you
require?"

"Mr. Little's discharge, sir."

"Are you aware he is with me on a month's notice?"

"They make a point of his leaving the works at once, sir; and I was to
beg you to put other hands into his room."

"It is taking a great liberty to propose that."

"Nay. They only want to be satisfied. He has given a vast o' trouble."

"I'll give him a month's warning. If I discharge him on the spot, he can
sue me."

"That has been thought on. If he sues you, you can talk to the Unions,
and they will act with you. But the grinders are not to come in till
Little is out."

"Well, so be it, then."

"And his rooms occupied by Union men?"

"If I swallow the bolus, I may as well swallow the pills. Anything
more?"

"The grinders are not to lose their time; a day and a half."

"What! am I to pay them for not working?"

"Well, sir, if we had come to you, of course the forgers and handlers
would have paid the grinders for lost time; but, as you have come to us,
you will have to pay them."

Cheetham made a wry face; but acquiesced.

"And then, sir," said Redcar, "there's another little matter. The
incidental expenses of the strike."

"I don't know what you mean."

"The expenses incurred by the secretaries, and a little present
to another gentleman, who advised us. It comes to thirty pounds
altogether."

"What!" cried Cheetham, struggling with his rising choler. "You want me
to pay men thirty pounds for organizing a strike, that will cost me so
dear, and rob me of a whole trade that was worth L300 a year? Why not
charge me for the gunpowder you blew up Little with, and spoiled my
forge? No, Bayne, no; this is too unjust and too tyrannical. Flesh
and blood won't bear it. I'll shut up the works, and go back to my
grindstone. Better live on bread and water than live like a slave."

Redcar took a written paper out of his pocket. "There are the terms
written down," said he, "if you sign them, the strike ends; if you
don't, it continues--till you do."

Cheetham writhed under the pressure. Orders were pouring in; trade
brisk; han