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244 master. was also quite aware his workers had comprehended his hope, and shared it.

In the upper room the one frame his eye instantly sought was empty. Sarah was absent, and he had a minute's keen disappointment. He meant to have stopped at her loom, and said, at least, "All the trouble is over, Sarah." It was also so very unusual to find her absent that his heart felt afraid, and he went back to his office and waited anxiously and impatiently for Ben's return.

Ben came in about an hour. He had that uncomfortable habit of taking great events in a way so cool and slow as to be absolutely provoking and irritating to quicker natures. He took off his coat and vest and began quietly to put on his big pinafore, apparently quite unconscious of Jonathan's impatience.

"Well?" asked Jonathan, with a touch of temper, "why doesn't ta say something? Did ta see Sykes?"

"Ay, I saw him."

"Well?"

"Nay, it wasn't well. It was varry far from well. He called me ivery foul name he could