“Does tha really think thou hes an up and down blackguard for thy brother? I’m not thinking of buying poor men’s houses for a song—nor yet of buying them at any price.”
“A perfectly fair price, eh?”
“No. There could not be a fair price under such conditions. The poor would be bound to get the worst of the bargain, unless I ruined mysen to be square and just. I doan’t want to sit in hell, trying to count up what I hed made by buying poor men’s homes at a bargain.”
“Hes tha any plan that will help thee to build a mill and give thy old weavers a chance?”
“The government will loan to old employers money to help them build a mill, and so give work and bread.”
“The government is not lending money, except with some excellent security.”
“Land, I have plenty. I could spare some land.”
“No. Thou could not spare the government one acre.”
“Then I cannot build a mill and furnish it with looms and all necessary.”
“Yes, thou can easily do it—if thou wilt take a partner.”