y they glared at me; it made me pretty
uncomfortable,' said George.

Sarah looked at her brother, who was smoking a gold-tipped cigarette.
'You don't look very uncomfortable,' she observed.

'Oh George! Oh Sarah! Do you see that the mills are workin' again?' cried
Mrs Clay, her lips trembling, as she came into the room where her
children were.

George put his arm round his mother. Even Sarah was moved to be
demonstrative, and, taking her mother's hand, fondled it.

'What is it, mother? Why does that frighten you so? It is a very good
thing, though I don't know how it has come about,' said George gently.

Mrs Clay only shook her head. She made no reply, but stood gazing out
over Ousebank, her eyes fixed on the cluster of chimneys that belonged to
their mills. They had finished the firing probably, for the chimneys were
not smoking so violently now, but some smoke was still coming out.

Sarah seemed very thoughtful, and soon left the room to go in search of
Naomi. 'Have the hands gone back, Naomi?' she asked abruptly.

'You've seen it, then? Our lads haven't, I know. I can't make it out at
all. I'd give something to know what's happened; but now that none of the
townspeople are allowed farther than the park-gates we hear no news at
all,' replied Naomi.

'Naomi, I must know how they've managed it. I shall come down the town
with you,' cried Sarah.

'Very well, miss. I'll be ready in two minutes,' said Naomi, and went
off.

On her way she met Mrs Clay, who looked relieved at meeting her, and
remarked, 'Oh Naomi, just tell Miss Sarah that Mr Howroyd 'as 'phoned to
say that none of us are to go into the town to-day.'

'None of us, ma'am? Do you mean not even me?' inquired Naomi, looking
blank.

'Oh, you! No, you won't matter; they won't 'urt you,' said Mrs Clay,
quite severely for her.

Naomi returned slowly to Sarah's room. 'Mistress says no one is to go
into the town to-day, by Mr Howroyd's orders, except me; so, please,
miss, may I run down and find out what it all means?'

As may be imagined, Sarah did not understand this message at all; but
when Naomi had explained as well as she could, her young mistress said
with decision, 'I'm coming with you, Naomi. Something dreadful is the
matter. I expect they are burning up all the fuel, or doing some damage
to the mill.'

'Please, Miss Sarah, don't be angry, but I daren't take you. It's as much
as my place is worth, and you might get roughly handled if the lad