“But aw stood stock still i’ th’ front o’ his mare, an’ aw held up th’ child aboon th’ horse’s head an’ I thrust it right to his face.”
‘Look at thi work, William Horsfall; look at thi work, an’ be glad,’ I cried. “Th’ horse reared a bit, an’ he leaned over its shoulder an’ peered, for it wer’ gettin’ dark. Aw thrust th’ poor mite close to his jowl, an’ aw heard him catch his breath an’ saw a great start in his e’en. An’ then he drew his mare on to its haunches, an’ lifted his stock high in th’ air, an’ before aw wer’ aware on him, down he brought it wi’ all his might an’ main reight across mi face. Tha’ may see th’ weal. But aw didn’t seem to feel it much.”
“‘Out o’ mi way, you villain,’ he cried, an’ he dug his spur into th’ mare an’ she sprang on wi’ a bound, an’ he wer off up th’ road, turning in his saddle an’ shouting:
‘Aw marked yo’ George Mellor; aw marked yo’, an’ know yo’ for what yo’ are. Yo’n none heard th’ last o’ this.’”
“But aw cared nought for what he said. I gave th’ wee body back to its mother an’ all th’ brass I had on me. And ’oo went her way and I came mine. But, as the Lord’s above me, that blow shall cost William Horsfall dear.”
I hated more than ever to do my errand now, but it had to be done. My neat little argument about machines went clean out of my head. I got George quieted down after a bit. It had done him good to let him tell his tale and storm on a bit. And then, when I thought he could talk sensibly, I said:
“Yo’ won’t like my errand, George, but I’ve settled to tell you, an’ I thought I must come straight to yo’ an’ tell yo’ what’s in my mind.”
“Well, what is it, lad, I’m easier now I’ve said my say.”
“Yo’ know what’s fixed for next Saturday?”
“I do, that, Ben, an’ all goes rare an’ well. Aw’ve had word that a big force fra Leeds will join us near Rawfolds, an’ some ’ll be there fra Bradford an’ Dewsbury. Th’ movement’s spreading, lad, it’s spreading an’ it’s growing, an’ th’ time’s at hand when General Lud will have an army that will sweep all before it.”