pecting him for it; so just keep your tongues off him when you meet
him, and do him a kind turn if you can. He and I ain't of one mind, you
well know--at least we haven't been; but he knows this, that in anything
that's good I'll back him up through thick and thin if he'll let me.
And now, here's a grand opportunity; just some of you chaps as have been
cheering him like anything come up to the table and sign the pledge with
him, and keep it by God's help, and you'll bless this night every day of
your lives, and so will the wives and children."

There was a cheery response to this speech in many a hearty word of
assent; and then the vicar closed the meeting, inviting any who were
willing to come and sign. The crowded room was soon emptied of all but
a very few, among whom were William Foster and about a dozen more of the
working-men, who expressed their intention to sign with him. Foster
himself signed his name with an unflinching hand, but said nothing. The
vicar thought it wisest not to endeavour to draw him into conversation
at this time, but with a kindly shake of the hand, and an expression of
thankfulness at his joining the Temperance Society, bade him good-night.

As the committee and the speakers were leaving the hall, the vicar kept
Thomas Bradly back, and said to him: "This is wonderful indeed; it is
the Lord's doing, and is marvellous in our eyes. Now you must keep your
eye, Thomas, on Foster; I think you will get at him at first better than
I should be likely to do. You will be able to see just how the land
lies, and I shall be ready to come in at any time; only with such a man
we must use discretion, knowing what his antecedents have been."

"Ay, surely," replied the other; "I'll not let him go, sir, now that
we've got hold of him--you may depend upon it. Oh! This is indeed what
I never could have dreamt of. Well, we've had a grand night; and it's a
sign, I believe, as we're going to have some rare bright sunshine on our
temperance work."

"I trust and believe so, indeed," rejoined Mr Maltby, and they parted.

That meeting was never forgotten in Crossbourne, but was always spoken
of as emphatically _the_ great Crossbourne Temperance Meeting.

CHAPTER TEN.

LIGHT IN THE DARK DWELLING.

The day that followed the great temperance meeting was one full of
excitement to the operatives of Crossbourne. Every mill and workshop
resounded with the eager hum of conversation and conjecture touching t