'Why? After Sykes's offer, and Tom Fox's? I never told mother of him. It didn't seem to be any use, because she doesn't care for anything or feel grateful about anything.'
'I hope I shall have as good a wife; but she will be difficult to find,' observed George.
'You'll probably marry a virago; easy-going people like you generally do, and you'll be henpecked all your life,' was Sarah's consoling remark.
Then they both laughed, which did them good. Not very long after they went to bed, and, being young and full of hope, to sleep.
It seemed to them both that they had just shut their eyes when they heard the clanging of a bell; and, starting up in alarm, they recognised it as the bell of their uncle's mill calling the people to work.
George decided to go down to the mills, and a very short time saw him dressed and at the gates.
''Tis young Clay,' he heard as he passed down the street, through groups of idle men, women, and girls, whom he guessed to be their former employés. They had nothing to get up for; but habit was too strong for them, and they had risen and turned out at the same hour.
'What'll he be going to do at t' old mills?' some of them inquired of each other.
'I be main sorry for him. He's a right good young gentleman, they say,' said one woman.
'I wish he'd run the mills. I'd work for him,' said another.