no feverish fluctuations of hope and fear. It was
curious how they settled themselves to the fact. A nurse was installed
for night watching and the more onerous part; and the invalid's room
took on a pleasant aspect,--Christiana waiting on this side of the
river.

CHAPTER XXIV.

FOR the first time in his life, and for some unfathomable cause, Jack
Darcy found business cares irksome. Balance-time was at hand. He was a
little tired of the dreary round. The men's disaffection re-acted upon
him. With his keen and intelligent faculty of making the best of every
thing, he was disappointed because he had failed to inspire others with
it.

"It's not so bad, after all. We have nothing that can be passed to
capital, but we have held our own. Only, there is no dividend for the
men."

"I'll explain that to them," exclaimed Winston with a confident nod.

He did, and he had a rather stormy venture. All the old arguments and
agreements had to be gone over. Men unaccustomed to business are quick
in prosperity and stupid in adversity. They only had three-quarter
wages: why should they be called upon to lose beside? It was little
enough, and waiting five years,--and no one knew,--the whole thing might
go to smash another year! A few wished, with an oath, that they were
well out of it. They would never be bamboozled into any co-operative
scheme again.

The grumbling, grew louder and louder. It was discussed at Keppler's
over beer and bad whiskey, and quite inflammatory speeches were made.
Then Winston called the mill-hands together.

"My men," said he, "you know we opened the mills in starvation-times.
Every man who could raise fifty dollars was entitled to a half-share of
the capital, and he who could not was to have a little capital made off
of the savings of his labor. Last year you were all pleased and merry
and satisfied, because we made something: this year it has been the
reverse, though I declare to you, I, for one, have worked twice as hard.
Now, we shall never do any thing if we are all going to row different
ways. It must be the long pull, the strong pull, and the pull all
together. You know that if any operative became dissatisfied, and left,
his share was forfeited to the fund for the sick and disabled. Many of
you _are_ dissatisfied; but maybe you won't leave, thinking of last
year's money. Now, I want to say, every such man who would like to
_sell_ his share, may do so. I have had some applications from new