Haworth

“ In the rush of his new plans and the hurry of the last few months, Haworth had had time to forget the man who had wished him "good luck," and whose pathetic figure had been a shadow upon the first glow of his triumph. He did not connect him at all with the young fellow before him. He turned away with a shrug of his burly shoulders.
"He doesn't look like an Englishman," he said. "He hasn't got backbone enough."
Afterward when the two accidentally came in contact, Haworth wasted few civil words. At times his domineering brusqueness excited Murdoch to wonder. ”

“ Ffrench began to tremble.
"You've ventured a good deal of late, Haworth," he said, weakly. "You've done some pretty daring things, you know—and——"
Haworth turned on him.
"If I lose all I've made," he said, hoarsely, "shall I lose aught of yours, lad?"
Ffrench did not reply. He sat playing with his watch-chain nervously. He had cause for anxiousness on his own score, and his soul quaked within him.
"What is to be done?" he ventured at last.
"There's only one thing to be done," Haworth answered, pushing his chair back. "Stop it here—at th' start."
"Stop it?" Ffrench echoed, in amazement. ”

“ Murdoch threw himself into the chair opposite to him.
"Go on," he said. "Say what you have to say."
Haworth bent forward a little.
"You've got on better than I'd have thought, lad," he said,—"better than I'd have thought."
"What!" hoarsely. "Does she treat me as she treats other men?"
"Nay," said Haworth, "not as she treats me—by the Lord Harry!" ”

“ Before the iron gate a carriage had stopped. A servant in livery got down and opened the door, and Rachel Ffrench stepped out. The hands checked their shouting to look at her. She came up the yard slowly and with the setting sun shining upon her. It was natural that they should gaze at her as she approached, though she did not look at any of them—only at Haworth, who waited. They made a pathway for her and she passed through it and went up the step. Her rich dress touched more than one man as she swept by. ”

“ Each morning Haworth had driven down early and spent an hour in his office and about the place, reading letters, issuing orders and keeping a keen look-out generally.
"I'll have no spreeing here among you chaps," he announced. "Spree as much as you like when th' work's done, but you don't spree in my time. Look sharp after 'em, Kendal."
The day after his guests left him he appeared at his usual time, and sent at once for Murdoch. ”

“ He looked up at Haworth, who bent over him.
"Lie still a bit, lad," he heard him say. "Lie and rest thee."
He no sooner heard his voice than he forgot his weak [Pg 331] wonder at himself in a stronger wonder at him. He was ashen pale and a tremor shook him as he spoke.
"Lie still and rest thee," he repeated, and he touched his head with an approach to gentleness.
"They thought there was more than me," he said. "And they're not fond of powder and lead. They're better used to knobsticks and vitriol in the dark."
"They meant to murder me," said Murdoch. ”

“ Any woman might have felt his well-bred homage a delicate compliment. He was received as an agreeable addition to society; he attended her upon all occasions. From the window of his work-room Murdoch saw him drive by with her in her carriage, saw him drop into the bank for a friendly chat with Ffrench, who regarded him with a mixture of nervousness and admiration.
Haworth, having gone away again, had not heard of him. Of late the Works had seen little of its master. He made journeys hither and hither, and on his return from such journeys invariably kept the place in hot water. ”

“ Why should I come?"
"There is a very good reason why you should come," answered the young woman with perfect composure. "I am the reason."
There was no further discussion of the point. He was present and Haworth sat opposite to him at the table.
"It's the first time for him?" said Haworth to Miss Ffrench afterward.
"It is the first time he has dined here with other people," she answered. "Have you a reason for asking?"
He held his coffee-cup in his hand and glanced over it across the room,
"He is not like the rest on 'em," he said, "but he stands it pretty well, by George!" ”

“ He sat down, and turned over some papers, not rid of his uneasiness even when the door opened, and his visitor came in. He was a tall, slender man who stooped and was narrow-chested. He was gray, hollow-eyed and haggard. He removed his shabby hat and stood before the table a second, in silence.
"Mr. Haworth?" he said, in a gentle, absent-minded voice. "They told me this was Mr. Haworth's room."
"Yes," he answered, "I'm Haworth."
"I want—" a little hoarsely, and faltering—"to get some work to do. My name is Murdoch. I've spent the last thirty years in America, but I'm a Lancashire man. ”

“ There was a moment's halt and then Haworth made his reply as forcibly as ever.
"Radical be hanged," he said. "He's got work o' his own to attend to. He's one of the kind as leaves th' radicals alone. He's a straightforward chap that cares more for his books than aught else. I won't say," a trifle grudgingly, "that he's not a bit too straight in some things."
There was a halt again here which Ffrench rather wondered at; then Haworth spoke again, bluntly and yet lagging a little.
"I—I saw her, Miss Ffrench, myself yesterday. I was walking down the street when her carriage passed." ”

“ Ffrench gave to his old friends, no small excitement was created by Haworth's presence among the guests. The first man who, entering the room with his wife and daughters, caught sight of his brawny frame and rather dogged face, faltered and grew nervous, and would have turned back if he had possessed the courage to be the first to protest. ”

“ Haworth flung himself into a chair. He wore a look of dogged triumph.
"Leave 'em to me," he answered. "I'm in th' mood fur 'em now."
But it was not until some time afterward that he delivered the message Rachel Ffrench had intrusted to him.
On hearing it her father appeared to rally a little.
"It seems a rather dangerous thing to do," he said, "but—it is like her. And perhaps, after all, there is something in—in showing no fear." ”

“ Suddenly the silence was broken.
"Aye," there was a shout, "aye, lad, yo' ha'."
"Then," he shouted, "them as Jem Haworth has stood by, let 'em stand by Jem Haworth!"
And he struck his big fist upon his open palm with a fierce blow, and stood before them breathing hard.
He had the best metal on his side somehow, and the best metal carried the day. The boldness of his move, the fact that he had not waited, but had taken the lead, were things all for him. Even those who wavered toward the enemy were stirred to something like admiration. ”

“ It occurred to Haworth that some sudden physical ailment had attacked him. He went up to his side.
"What have you found, lad?" he demanded.
The next instant his own eyes discovered what it was. An open carriage was just drawing up before the bank. Rachel Ffrench sat in it, and Saint Méran was with her.
He looked at them a second or so and then looked at Murdoch—at his wretched face and his hollow eyes. An unsavory exclamation burst from him.
"What!" he cried out after it. "There's another man, is there? Is it that?"
"Yes," was Murdoch's monotonous reply. "There's another man." ”

“ Haworth looked down at him coolly.
"You're a pretty chap," he said, "goin' on th' strike an' leaving your wife and children to starve at home while you lay in your beer and make an ass of yourself."
"Eh!" exclaimed Mr. Briarley.
"And make an ass of yourself," repeated Haworth, unmovedly. "You'd better be drawin' your wages, my lad."
Mr. Briarley's expression changed. ”

“ Haworth went on. "And he keeps it to himself till the time comes to use it. He's a chap that keeps his mouth shut. He comes up to my house and reads my books. I've not been brought up to books myself, but there's none of 'em he can't tackle. He's welcome to use aught I've got. I'm not such a fool as to grudge him what all my brass won't buy me."
"I think I've heard of him," said Ffrench. "You mean Murdoch."
"Ay," Haworth answered, "I mean Murdoch; and there's not many chaps like him. He's the only one of the sort I ever run up against." ”

“ Ffrench. "Some of these fellows are always bad enough, and this Haworth rose from the ranks. He was a foundry lad himself."
"I met Mr. Haworth, too," said Miss Ffrench. "He stopped in the street to stand looking after the carriage. He is a very big person."
"He is a very successful fellow," with something like a sigh. "A man who has made of himself what he has through sheer power of will and business capacity is a genius." ”

“ Murdoch fell back a pace, and stared at him in a stunned way.
"Given it up!" he repeated. "Yet?"
"Look here!" said Haworth. "You'd better do it, if you haven't. Take my advice, and have done with it. You're not a young chap, and if a thing's a failure after thirty years' work——" He stopped, because he saw the man trembling nervously. ”

“ Mr. Ffrench began to ask questions and make himself agreeable, and in a short time was very well entertained indeed.
Miss Ffrench listened with but slight demonstrations of interest. She did not understand the conversation which was being carried on between her father and Murdoch, and she made no pretense of doing so.
"It is all very clear to them," she said to Haworth as they stood near each other.
"It's all clear enough to him," said Haworth, signifying Murdoch with a gesture. ”

“ Haworth and his iniquities had been the spice of her later life. The fact that his name was being mentioned in a conversation never escaped her; she discovered it as if by magic and invariably commanded that the incident under discussion be repeated at the top of the reciter's voice for her benefit, occasionally somewhat to the confusion of the honest matron in question.
How it had happened that she had not betrayed all to Mrs. Haworth at once was a mystery to remain unsolved. During the little woman's visits to the cottage, Mrs. Briarley existed in a chronic condition of fear and trembling. ”

“ Murdoch looked up the road for a few seconds before he replied. He was thinking over the events of the past week.
"I do not think it is true," he said, after this pause. "I don't think it can be. Haworth is not the man to do it."
But the idea was such a startling one, presented in this form, that it gave him a kind of shock; and as he went on his way naturally thinking over the matter, he derived some consolation from repeating aloud his last words:
"No, it is not likely. Haworth is not the man to do it." ”

“ But Haworth did not move. He was in a mysterious humor, it was plain. In a minute more his young companion began to stare at him with open eyes. She saw something in his face which bewildered her.
"He's getten more than's good fur him," she was about to decide shrewdly, when he leaned forward and touched her with the handle of the whip he held.
"You're a sharp little lass, I warrant," he said.
Janey regarded him with some impatience. He was flushed and somewhat disheveled and spoke awkwardly.
"You're a sharp little lass, I'll warrant," he said again. ”

“ But Miss Ffrench was wholly at ease. She enjoyed the rapturous wonder she had excited with all her heart. She was very glad she had come.
"It must be very pleasant for Mr. Haworth to have you here," she said.
The woman started. A flush of joy rose upon her withered face. Her comprehension of her son's prosperity had been a limited one. Somehow she had never thought of this. Here was a beautiful, high-bred woman to whom he must be in a manner near, since she spoke of him in this way—as if he had been a gentleman born.
"Jem?" she faltered, innocently. "Yes, ma'am. I hope so. ”

“ It had grown up around the Works and increased with them. It had a small railway station, two or three public houses much patronized, and wore, somehow, an air of being utterly unconnected with the outside world which much belied it. Motives of utility, a desire to be on the spot, and a general disregard for un-business-like attractions had led Haworth to build his house on the outskirts of the town. ”

“ Haworth turned to the things and looked them over one by one, touching some of them dubiously, some carelessly, some without much comprehension.
"Look here," he said to Murdoch, "there's a room nigh mine that's not in use. I don't like to be at close quarters with every chap, but you can bring your traps up there. It'll be a place to stow 'em an' do your bits o' jobs when you're in the humor."
The same day the change was made, and before leaving the Works, Haworth came in to look around. ”

“ Th' lads at Marfort and Molton and Dillup are on th' strike. There's a bad lookout in many a place besides them. There's a lot of fools laying in beer and making speeches down in Broxton; there were some here this morning as didn't show this afternoon. How many on you's going to follow them?"
Then there was a murmur which was not easy to understand. It was a mixture of sounds defiant and conciliatory. Haworth moved forward. He knew them better than they knew him.
"I'm not one o' the model soart," he called out. "I've not set up soup kitchens nor given you flannel petticoats. ”

“ Her father turned upon her with manifest irritation.
"Good taste!" he repeated petulantly. "Cannot you see that the poor fellow is a gentleman? I wish you would show less of this nonsensical caste prejudice, Rachel."
"I suppose one necessarily dispenses with a good deal of it in a place like this," she answered. "In making friends with Mr. Haworth, for instance——"
Mr. Ffrench drew nearer to her and rested his elbow upon the mantel with rather an embarrassed expression.
"I wish you to—to behave well to Haworth," he said faltering. "I—a great deal may—may depend upon it." ”