, coming in and putting his hand for a moment kindly on his
nephew's shoulder.

Sarah was struck by his serious and troubled face. She wondered whether
it was anxiety for his brother's health or sorrow for the misdeeds of the
Ousebank men. She did not know that there was a third reason added to
these two; but she soon was to know it.

'I want to pack off those men as soon as the contract we have in hand is
finished,' said George.

'They've saved you and me any trouble, George, lad. They've discharged
themselves,' said Mr Howroyd gravely.

George looked at his uncle aghast. 'You mean that the foreigners have
gone--without a minute's warning?' he asked.

'They have that,' replied Mr Howroyd.

'But why did they suddenly do that? They seemed to go back to work
willingly enough after their dinner,' said George.

'It seems they had some means of communicating with the outside world.
When they heard of your poor father's illness, and were told he was
ruined, and his house even burnt down, they decided to leave a sinking
ship,' said Mr Howroyd.

'Uncle Howroyd, do you think it is a sinking ship?' inquired Sarah.

Mr Howroyd considered a little; but, being a man who thought honesty
always the best policy, he replied frankly, 'I think we shall save enough
out of the wreck to keep you afloat; but I think Clay's Mills must shut.'

'I don't understand that, sir. Of course, I know that we must have lost a
good deal by the fire, and this contract, too, will be a serious loss;
but there is the insurance of the house, and I understand that, thanks to
you and other kind helpers, a good deal was saved at Balmoral,' observed
George.

'That is so, my lad; but the trouble is--and that's what caused your
father's illness--the house was not insured,' said Mr Howroyd.

'Oh, but, uncle, it was. I happen to know, because father said the
insurance he paid would keep a family comfortably,' interrupted Sarah.

'I know, and so I thought; but, owing to threats they received, saying it
was going to be burnt down, the company asked such a heavy premium that
your father refused to pay it, and said he'd take precautions instead. It
was a mad thing, and no one but him would have dared to do it. And now,
what are you going to do with an empty mill, whose hands have all struck,
and whose head is lying unconscious?' inquired Mr Howroyd kindly but
discouragingly.

The brother and sister had drawn closer to each other instinctively in
this thei