"You're a man in your opinions seemingly, though I wish to God you hadn't grown out of childhood so quick, if you were going to grow to this. It'll drive you mad if you're not careful. Then where shall I be?"
"I'll drive other people mad—not you. I'll come back home, and then
I'll find work at Bridport."
"Where's home going to be—that's the question?" Sabina answered. "There's only one choice for you—between letting him finish your education and going out to work."
"We'll live in Bridport, then," he told her, "and I'll go into something with machinery. I'll soon rise, and I might rise high enough to ruin him yet, some day. And never you forget he had my offer and turned it down. He didn't know what he was doing when he did that."
"He couldn't trust you. How was he to know you wouldn't try to burn the works again—and succeed next time?"
Abel laughed.
"That was a fool's trick. If they'd gone, he'd only have built 'em again, better. But there are some things he can't insure."
"I know a good few spinners at Bridport. Shall I have a look round for you?" she asked, as they rose to return.
He considered and agreed.
"Yes, if it's only through you. I trust you not to go to him about it.
If you did and I found you had—"