'Do what?' demanded George, who did not think much of this inspiration.
'Ring the bell—the big bell, I mean—to call the hands in, just as if nothing had happened,' urged Sarah.
'Nothing would happen if I did, except that we should have a gaping crowd round the gate, and the fire-brigade coming to see if we had a fire. So, if that's your inspiration, I'm inclined to agree with you that my waiting for it has been useless,' returned George.
'I wish you'd try, George. I believe the hands would all come back, and we should get the contract done after all,' persisted Sarah. 'They looked at me in quite a friendly way as I passed, and lots of the men touched their hats, a thing they never did before.'
George hesitated. 'But I don't feel that I could take them back again,' he said.
'Then what do you mean to do? You can't run the mills with new hands,' she protested.
'No; but I can't take back the men who have destroyed our property,' he declared.
'They are, or soon will be, taken up; so they won't apply,' began Sarah, when her brother interrupted her.
'Sarah,' he cried with sudden vigour, 'you have inspired me after all! I will have the bell rung, and when the people come, as some are sure to come, out of curiosity, I will make them a speech, and explain that those whom my father dismissed are still dismissed, but that the rest I shall be glad to have back. I'll speak to the manager, and see what he thinks.'
The manager and Ben looked admiringly at George.