nly to return in a few minutes to say, 'You are right; she prefers
George, and George prefers Balmoral. He says I am to tell you to stop
where you are, if it's any use telling you to do anything.'

'I sha'n't obey George; but as it's Hobson's choice, I will stay with
you, Uncle Howroyd; but, please, tell me, how did father manage to get
foreigners to do his work?'

'That's more than any one but himself knows; but he smuggled them into
the mills yesterday, and they slept there all night, it seems; but who
they are, or where they came from, or how they are getting on, no one
knows,' replied Mr Howroyd.

'They can't stop in there always, and the people will kill them when they
come out,' said Sarah.

'Your father will protect them, and so shall I, if it comes to that; but
it's a bad business, a very bad business; and what will be the end of it,
who can tell?'

'I know they'll burn down the mills--that's what always happens--and we
shall be ruined,' said Sarah.

'That won't ruin you, because they are insured, and let us hope it won't
come to that. Besides, the mills are so well guarded that they can't get
near them,' said Mr Howroyd in a tone which showed that he had thought of
this danger himself.

Mr Howroyd was now called away, and Sarah was left to her own thoughts,
which were not pleasant ones. Somehow, when it came to the point, the
thought of her father being burnt in his mill or ruined by his
workpeople's spite was not so lovely, and she was relieved when Naomi
reappeared with a bundle in her arms.

'I didn't dare to bring a portmanteau, miss, or even your dressing-bag. I
was afraid with all these folk about ready for any mischief, so I've just
brought a few necessities, as the mistress says; and she sends her love,
and says she's glad you are safe with your uncle, though she wishes you'd
stayed with her.'

'I wish I had, Naomi. Tell her I would never have come if I had known I
should not be able to get back, and that if she will tell Uncle Howroyd I
may, I'll come home at once,' said Sarah.

Trouble was doing Sarah good, and her affectionate message did her mother
good; though she hurried off to the telephone to tell Mr Howroyd that she
forbade Sarah to attempt to come home, and to inform him that Mr Clay was
stopping at the mill too.

And so the weary, dreary day wore on, and the excitement in the streets
grew. After nightfall the older men held indignation meetings in public,
where they had huge aud