He was trying to understand where he stood; what damage the strike had done him.
A good deal of his capital was locked up in new and expensive machinery; and he had also bought cotton largely, with a view to some great orders which he had in hand.
The strike had thrown him terribly behindhand, as to the completion of these orders.
Even with his own accustomed and skilled workpeople, he would have had some difficulty in fulfilling his engagements; as it was, the incompetence of the Irish hands, who had to be trained to their work, at a time requiring unusual activity, was a daily annoyance.
It was not a favourable hour for Higgins to make his request.
But he had promised Margaret to do it at any cost.
So, though every moment added to his repugnance, his pride, and his sullenness of temper, he stood leaning against the dead wall, hour after hour, first on one leg, then on the other.
At last the latch was sharply lifted, and out came Mr. Thornton.
'I want for to speak to yo', sir.'
'Can't stay now, my man.
I'm too late as it is.'
'Well, sir, I reckon I can wait till yo' come back.'
Mr. Thornton was half way down the street.
Higgins sighed.
But it was no use.
To catch him in the street was his only chance of seeing 'the measter;' if he had rung the lodge bell, or even gone up to the house to ask for him, he would have been referred to the overlooker.
So he stood still again, vouchsafing no answer, but a short nod of recognition to the few men who knew and spoke to him, as the crowd drove out of the millyard at dinner-time, and scowling with all his might at the Irish 'knobsticks' who had just been imported.
At last Mr. Thornton returned.
'What! you there still!'
'Ay, sir.
I mun speak to yo'.'
'Come in here, then.
Stay, we'll go across the yard; the men are not come back, and we shall have it to ourselves.
These good people, I see, are at dinner;' said he, closing the door of the porter's lodge.
He stopped to speak to the overlooker.
The latter said in a low tone:
'I suppose you know, sir, that that man is Higgins, one of the leaders of the Union; he that made that speech in Hurstfield.'
'No, I didn't,' said Mr. Thornton, looking round sharply at his follower.
Higgins was known to him by name as a turbulent spirit.
'Come along,' said he, and his tone was rougher than before.
'It is men such as this,' thought he, 'who interrupt commerce and injure the very town they live in: mere demagogues, lovers of power, at whatever cost to others.'
'Well, sir! what do you want with me?' said Mr. Thornton, facing round at him, as soon as they were in the counting-house of the mill.
'My name is Higgins'—
'I know that,' broke in Mr. Thornton. 'What do you want, Mr. Higgins?
That's the question.'
'I want work.'
'Work!
You're a pretty chap to come asking me for work.
You don't want impudence, that's very clear.'
'I've getten enemies and backbiters, like my betters; but I ne'er heerd o' ony of them calling me o'er-modest,' said Higgins.
His blood was a little roused by Mr. Thornton's manner, more than by his words.
Mr. Thornton saw a letter addressed to himself on the table.
He took it up and read it through.
At the end, he looked up and said,
'What are you waiting for?'
'An answer to the question I axed.'
'I gave it you before.
Don't waste any more of your time.'
'Yo' made a remark, sir, on my impudence: but I were taught that it was manners to say either "yes" or "no," when I were axed a civil question.
I should be thankfu' to yo' if yo'd give me work.