He never looked at her; so she might study him unobserved, and note the changes which even this short time had wrought in him.
Only at some unexpected mot of Mr. Lennox's, his face flashed out into the old look of intense enjoyment; the merry brightness returned to his eyes, the lips just parted to suggest the brilliant smile of former days; and for an instant, his glance instinctively sought hers, as if he wanted her sympathy.
But when their eyes met, his whole countenance changed; he was grave and anxious once more; and he resolutely avoided even looking near her again during dinner.
There were only two ladies besides their own party, and as these were occupied in conversation by her aunt and Edith, when they went up into the drawing-room, Margaret languidly employed herself about some work.
Presently the gentlemen came up, Mr. Colthurst and Mr. Thornton in close conversation.
Mr. Lennox drew near to Margaret, and said in a low voice:
'I really think Edith owes me thanks for my contribution to her party.
You've no idea what an agreeable, sensible fellow this tenant of yours is.
He has been the very man to give Colthurst all the facts he wanted coaching in.
I can't conceive how he contrived to mismanage his affairs.'
'With his powers and opportunities you would have succeeded,' said Margaret.
He did not quite relish the tone in which she spoke, although the words but expressed a thought which had passed through his own mind.
As he was silent, they caught a swell in the sound of conversation going on near the fire-place between Mr. Colthurst and Mr. Thornton.
'I assure you, I heard it spoken of with great interest—curiosity as to its result, perhaps I should rather say.
I heard your name frequently mentioned during my short stay in the neighbourhood.'
Then they lost some words; and when next they could hear Mr. Thornton was speaking.
'I have not the elements for popularity—if they spoke of me in that way, they were mistaken.
I fall slowly into new projects; and I find it difficult to let myself be known, even by those whom I desire to know, and with whom I would fain have no reserve.
Yet, even with all these drawbacks, I felt that I was on the right path, and that, starting from a kind of friendship with one, I was becoming acquainted with many.
The advantages were mutual: we were both unconsciously and consciously teaching each other.'
'You say "were."
I trust you are intending to pursue the same course?'
'I must stop Colthurst,' said Henry Lennox, hastily.
And by an abrupt, yet apropos question, he turned the current of the conversation, so as not to give Mr. Thornton the mortification of acknowledging his want of success and consequent change of position.
But as soon as the newly-started subject had come to a close, Mr. Thornton resumed the conversation just where it had been interrupted, and gave Mr. Colthurst the reply to his inquiry.
'I have been unsuccessful in business, and have had to give up my position as a master.
I am on the look out for a situation in Milton, where I may meet with employment under some one who will be willing to let me go along my own way in such matters as these.
I can depend upon myself for having no go-ahead theories that I would rashly bring into practice.
My only wish is to have the opportunity of cultivating some intercourse with the hands beyond the mere "cash nexus."
But it might be the point Archimedes sought from which to move the earth, to judge from the importance attached to it by some of our manufacturers, who shake their heads and look grave as soon as I name the one or two experiments that I should like to try.'
'You call them "experiments" I notice,' said Mr. Colthurst, with a delicate increase of respect in his manner.
'Because I believe them to be such.
I am not sure of the consequences that may result from them.
But I am sure they ought to be tried.
I have arrived at the conviction that no mere institutions, however wise, and however much thought may have been required to organise and arrange them, can attach class to class as they should be attached, unless the working out of such institutions bring the individuals of the different classes into actual personal contact.
Such intercourse is the very breath of life.
A working man can hardly be made to feel and know how much his employer may have laboured in his study at plans for the benefit of his workpeople.
A complete plan emerges like a piece of machinery, apparently fitted for every emergency.
But the hands accept it as they do machinery, without understanding the intense mental labour and forethought required to bring it to such perfection.
But I would take an idea, the working out of which would necessitate personal intercourse; it might not go well at first, but at every hitch interest would be felt by an increasing number of men, and at last its success in working come to be desired by all, as all had borne a part in the formation of the plan; and even then I am sure that it would lose its vitality, cease to be living, as soon as it was no longer carried on by that sort of common interest which invariably makes people find means and ways of seeing each other, and becoming acquainted with each others' characters and persons, and even tricks of temper and modes of speech.
We should understand each other better, and I'll venture to say we should like each other more.'
'And you think they may prevent the recurrence of strikes?'
'Not at all.
My utmost expectation only goes so far as this—that they may render strikes not the bitter, venomous sources of hatred they have hitherto been.
A more hopeful man might imagine that a closer and more genial intercourse between classes might do away with strikes.
But I am not a hopeful man.'
Suddenly, as if a new idea had struck him, he crossed over to where Margaret was sitting, and began, without preface, as if he knew she had been listening to all that had passed:
'Miss Hale, I had a round-robin from some of my men—I suspect in Higgins' handwriting—stating their wish to work for me, if ever I was in a position to employ men again on my own behalf.
That was good, wasn't it?'
'Yes. Just right.