“Well, lads, what's up?”
“Mary Anne has been here.”
“And two pair of wheel-bands gone.”
“Well, men, you know whose fault it is.”
“Nay, but it is —— hard my work should be stopped because another man is in arrears with trade. What d'ye think to do, Governor? buy some more bands?”
“Certainly not. I won't pay for your fault. It is a just claim, you know. Settle it among yourselves.”
With this he retired to his studio.
When the men saw he did not care a button whether his grindstones revolved or not, they soon brought the defaulters to book. Bayne was sent upstairs, to beg Mr. Little to advance the trade contributions, and step the amount from the defaulters' wages.
This being settled, Little and Bayne went to the “Cutlers' Arms,” and Bayne addressed the barmaid thus, “Can we see Mary Anne?”
“He is shaving.”