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 my certy! Did ye come fro’ th’ Antarctic Zone, maister? Moses is dished.”

Moses, however, refused to be dished; he thought he would try again. Casting a somewhat ireful glance at “Noah o’ Tim’s,” he launched out in his turn: and now he spoke in a serious tone, relinquishing the sarcasm which he found had not answered.

“Or iver you set up the pole o’ your tent amang us, Mr. Moore, we lived i’ peace and quietness; yea, I may say, in all loving-kindness. I am not myself an aged person as yet, but I can remember as far back as maybe some twenty year, when hand-labour were encouraged and respected, and no mischief-maker had ventured to introduce these here machines, which is so pernicious. Now, I’m not a cloth-dresser myself, but by trade a tailor; howsiver, my heart is of a softish natur’: I’m a very feeling man, and when I see my brethren oppressed, like my great namesake of old, I stand up for ’em; for which intent, I this day speak with you face to face, and advises you to part wi’ your infernal machinery, and tak’ on more hands.”

“What if I don’t follow your advice, Mr. Barraclough?”

“The Looard pardon you. The Looard soften your heart, sir!”

“Are you in connection with the Wesleyans now, Mr. Barraclough?”