overnment-bonds; but if there is no business, what is to augment our
revenue, and where then shall we be finally, with our mills and
workshops shut up, and our people begging? If I had enough of my own to
bridge over the chasm, I would ask no one's help," he went on a little
proudly. "The mills at Yerbury stand in sad silence, with ruin before
them; our men are idle and dispirited, turning into tramps and
vagabonds, because they hate to sit still and starve. And here am I, of
no real use to the world, and the eight years back of me that I have
spent in perfecting myself of no account either, unless I find something
upon which to employ my ability and training. If I purchase the mills,
we must hire capital to work them with, and everybody would be shy of
us. We can get together the capital if we could be sure of the place for
five years, at a moderate rental."

"But would not a joint-stock company answer the purpose better, and
carry more weight?" she asked, listening with a sort of intent wariness.

"I want to enlist the workmen, so that we shall be reasonably sure of
co-operation in other things beside money, industry, thrift,
faithfulness, and a common interest in success. If times are hard, we
shall all make sacrifices: if they improve, we shall benefit by the
earnestness of our endeavors. Maverick and I have made a little draft,
based on the workings of the best French and English societies. If you
will look it over"--and he took it out of his memorandum.

She studied it with a keen, rapid glance.

"It is what I should call an industrial partnership," Darcy continued.
"We _should_ own the mill; but, as we cannot, that must go in the
working expenses. As the men choose, and are able, they can hold shares;
but at present this will be obtained--say from a dozen perhaps. Nothing
now will bring in twenty or even ten per cent, and we must be satisfied
with whatever we can make. We have had our good times, and now we must
take the evil; but if there is any better way than sitting down
resignedly, and folding both hands, I, for one, want to find it."

She was taking in the combinations of emotion and purpose that flitted
over his face. A man who would do something if he could get that hardest
of all things, a foothold to stand upon.

"I think you might make more money," she said with pointed brevity.

"Which would not be co-operation," with his frank, genial laugh that
went to her heart. "I want to try the experiment.