CHAPTER LVI. NEW REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED. "Wake, thou that sleepest in enchanted bowers, Wake, ere the earth-born charm unnerve thee quite, And God Himself, inactive, were no longed blessed." MR. GREYSON's first impulse, on reaching the factory, was to make a tour of investigation through its several departments, in order to ascertain so far as a coup-d'œil would permit the present state of the men's feelings towards their employer. This he did; but nothing, either in their appearance or manner, indicated aught concerning the subject just then uppermost in his mind, until he chanced to point out something which he wished to have attended to on the following day. Then he remarked that several of the men paused in their work, and, lifting their heads, exchanged a brief, but expressive glance with each other; while a smile, full of significant meaning, quivered over their toil-worn faces. "Ah! I thought so!" muttered Mr. Greyson as he shut himself up in his office-a small, dingy-looking room, entirely devoid of any superfluities in the shape of furniture (a desk, two chairs, and large oaken press being the sole contents); "I scarcely know how I could have managed had I not been so ably supported by that extraordinary lad." Thus saying he seated himself at his desk, and opening a cumbrous ledger, hastily proceeded to make several entries in it; after which, he took a few restless turns through the contracted apartment, and finally stationed himself close to the window, from whence he would receive the quickest intimation of Mr. Snapson's approach. He had not waited long, when he descried him at a distance, coming slowly towards the factory, accompanied by Herbert (Albert, who entirely disapproved of their tardiness, was several yards ahead); and instantly summoning the person whose duty it was, Mr. Greyson desired him to make the usual signal for assembling the men in the spacious quradrangle of the building. His order was executed so promptly, that before the astonished workmen had time to speculate on the cause of their being thus hurriedly collected, or ask a single question, they found themselves in the presence of their unpopular employer. "What brings the master here, Dan ?" whispered a rubicund little man, whose smallness of stature enabled him to see Mr. Snapson, but not Herbert. "I'll bet you a shilling he has found out everything, and comes to give us our dismissal of his own accord. It's just like him—he's far too proud to “Peace, fool!” interrupted our friend Mortice, looking down upon his diminutive companion with an expression of supreme contempt; "Mr. Seymour is here, too." "Ah, I didn't know that. I wonder "Will you hold your tongue?" said Mortice, giving him an admonitory tap on the head; "he is going to speak.” "Who?" persisted the little man, pulling at his jacket. "Hush! Mr. Seymour, of course.' And he leant forward with intense eagerness, to hear what Herbert would say. "My friends," observed our hero, a pleasant light shining in his deep dark eyes, “Mr. Snapson has deputed me to inform you, that at the special request of his son "-pointing smilingly to Albert-" he engages to make the following alterations and modifications in the existing factory regulations." Here Herbert proceeded to recapitulate the different points which had been the original ground of controversy, and concluded by expressing his own heartfelt delight at this agreeable ending to a matter so nearly affecting the welfare and prosperity of themselves and their families, and suggested that if they clearly comprehended the extent of the concession Mr. Snapson had agreed to, and acquiesced in the specified arrangements, they might, to obviate any misconception or future discordancies, give that gentleman a verbal assurance of their satisfaction. For a short time after he had ceased speaking, the men consulted each other's faces, but said nothing. To Mr. Greyson, this pause seemed ominous-to Mr. Snapson, simply incredible; whilst Herbert, so far from being surprised or apprehensive, felt rather pleased at their apparent deliberation. "A promise hastily made is soon broken,” he remarked in an undertone to Mr. Snapson, on observing how thunderstruck he appeared at the hesitation of his subordinates; "I look upon it as a good omen that they should seriously revolve the pros and cons in their minds, previous to committing themselves." "Committing themselves!" repeated Mr. Snapson, in profound astonishment; "really one would suppose that the obligation was on my side instead of theirs." "We must have patience, papa," said Albert, touching him on the arm; "I think they are pleased." "I think so too," replied Herbert, eagerly scrutinising the countenances of those nearest himself. "Look_at_that_huge man who is elbowing his way through the crowd, Mr. Seymour," cried Albert, in some excitement; "what is he going to do?" "Ah, I see him," said Herbert, with a smile; adding in a whisper, "they have elected him as their spokesman, I suspect.' 66 Well, Mortice," he exclaimed, raising his voice, and advancing a step or two to meet him; "what is your final decision?" "We wish to thank Mr. Snapson for his promise," said Morticein no wise abashed by the stern severity of that gentleman's gaze— "and to say, that under the circumstances, we are willing to retain our old places in the factory." "Under the circumstances, indeed!" muttered Mr. Snapson, setting his lips fiercely together; "the low-born rascal! does he expect to impose on me?" But Herbert, who could better understand their struggles, and knew how to address himself to their capabilities, answered goodnaturedly, "You are right, my friends-quite right! A rolling stone, as you have often heard, gathers no moss! Mr. Snapson was at a loss to account for the sudden lighting up of many weather-beaten faces at this repetition of a homely proverb; or the respectfulness of Mortice's manner, as he responded, with an awkward attempt at a bow, "We also wish to offer you our grateful thanks, sir, for all the trouble you have had "Don't mention that," said Herbert, earnestly; 66 as I observed before, you owe everything, not to me, but to Mr. Snapson's own son. "Three cheers for the young squire!" cried a voice at the other end of the quadrangle; and instantly the words were taken up and echoed by every individual present, with a heartiness and energy peculiar to Englishmen, until the building rang again with the loud and prolonged cheering that followed. This sudden and unexpected demonstration produced a complete revolution in the mind of Mr. Snapson. The sweetest music he had ever heard was harsh and unharmonious when compared with the spirited vociferations that now greeted Albert -or, rather, himself, through his son; and as the deafening cheer burst again and yet again, from those stentorian voices, his rigid features unbent-their sharp, suspicious, and aceric expression changing into the nearest approach to gentleness and amiability which they were perhaps capable of assuming; while his thin lips wore a complacent smile, and his keenly inquisitive eyes seemed for the moment to be gleaming with sensibility. "and, "My son thanks you for this proof of your cordial feelings toward him," he said, lifting his hand as the last cheer died away; for my own part, I assure you that I am happy to have had the power of benefiting you." This was unquestionably true-pro tem. "I suppose we ought to get up a cheer for him," muttered Daniel Mortice, dubiously scratching his head; but the fact is, I don't much like "Never mind your likings, Daniel," said Herbert, who happened to overhear his soliloquy; "it is always better to do what is right, without waiting to consult our own inclination." "Do you think this is necessary, sir?" asked the man in a suppressed and irresolute tone. Nay, I would rather not interfere," replied Herbert, turning smilingly away: "though there can be no harm in reminding you that he might have refused his son's request, had he felt so disposed." That's true," ruminated Mortice: "well, I suppose it'll have to be. Here, my boys," he added, lifting his rugged voice, "let's give a cheer for the master." "A cheer for the master!" was repeated on all sides and, though neither so loud nor so long as the others, Mr. Snapson was in no mood and comes to give us our dismissal of his own accord. It's just like him-he's far too proud to "Peace, fool!" interrupted our friend Mortice, looking down upon his diminutive companion with an expression of supreme contempt; "Mr. Seymour is here, too." "Ah, I didn't know that. I wonder "Will you hold your tongue?" said Mortice, giving him an admonitory tap on the head; "he is going to speak." "Who?" persisted the little man, pulling at his jacket. "Hush! Mr. Seymour, of course.' And he leant forward with intense eagerness, to hear what Herbert would say. "My friends," observed our hero, a pleasant light shining in his deep dark eyes, "Mr. Snapson has deputed me to inform you, that at the special request of his son "-pointing smilingly to Albert-"he engages to make the following alterations and modifications in the existing factory regulations." Here Herbert proceeded to recapitulate the different points which had been the original ground of controversy, and concluded by expressing his own heartfelt delight at this agreeable ending to a matter so nearly affecting the welfare and prosperity of themselves and their families, and suggested that if they clearly comprehended the extent of the concession Mr. Snapson had agreed to, and acquiesced in the specified arrangements, they might, to obviate any misconception or future discordancies, give that gentleman a verbal assurance of their satisfaction. For a short time after he had ceased speaking, the men consulted each other's faces, but said nothing. To Mr. Greyson, this pause seemed ominous to Mr. Snapson, simply incredible; whilst Herbert, so far from being surprised or apprehensive, felt rather pleased at their apparent deliberation. "A promise hastily made is soon broken," he remarked in an undertone to Mr. Snapson, on observing how thunderstruck he appeared at the hesitation of his subordinates; "I look upon it as a good omen that they should seriously revolve the pros and cons in their minds, previous to committing themselves." "Committing themselves!" repeated Mr. Snapson, in profound astonishment; "really one would suppose that the obligation was on my side instead of theirs." "We must have patience, papa," said Albert, touching him on the arm; "I think they are pleased." "I think so too," replied Herbert, eagerly scrutinising the countenances of those nearest himself. "Look at that huge man who is elbowing his way through the crowd, Mr. Seymour," cried Albert, in some excitement; "what is he going to do?" "Ah, I see him," said Herbert, with a smile; adding in a whisper, "they have elected him as their spokesman, I suspect." "Well, Mortice," he exclaimed, raising his voice, and advancing a step or two to meet him; "what is your final decision?" "We wish to thank Mr. Snapson for his promise," said Morticein no wise abashed by the stern severity of that gentleman's gaze"and to say, that under the circumstances, we are willing to retain our old places in the factory." "Under the circumstances, indeed!" muttered Mr. Snapson, setting his lips fiercely together; "the low-born rascal! does he expect to impose on me?" But Herbert, who could better understand their struggles, and knew how to address himself to their capabilities, answered goodnaturedly, "You are right, my friends-quite right! A rolling stone, as you have often heard, gathers no moss!" Mr. Snapson was at a loss to account for the sudden lighting up of many weather-beaten faces at this repetition of a homely proverb; or the respectfulness of Mortice's manner, as he responded, with an awkward attempt at a bow, "We also wish to offer you our grateful thanks, sir, for all the trouble you have had "Don't mention that," said Herbert, earnestly; 66 as I observed before, you owe everything, not to me, but to Mr. Snapson's own son." "Three cheers for the young squire!" cried a voice at the other end of the quadrangle; and instantly the words were taken up and echoed by every individual present, with a heartiness and energy peculiar to Englishmen, until the building rang again with the loud and prolonged cheering that followed. This sudden and unexpected demonstration produced a complete revolution in the mind of Mr. Snapson. The sweetest music he had ever heard was harsh and unharmonious when compared with the spirited vociferations that now greeted Albert -or, rather, himself, through his son; and as the deafening cheer burst again and yet again, from those stentorian voices, his rigid features unbent-their sharp, suspicious, and aceric expression changing into the nearest approach to gentleness and amiability which they were perhaps capable of assuming; while his thin lips wore a complacent smile, and his keenly inquisitive eyes seemed for the moment to be gleaming with sensibility. My son thanks you for this proof of your cordial feelings toward him," he said, lifting his hand as the last cheer died away; "and, for my own part, I assure you that I am happy to have had the power of benefiting you." This was unquestionably true-pro tem. "I suppose we ought to get up a cheer for him," muttered Daniel Mortice, dubiously scratching his head; but the fact is, I don't much like "Never mind your likings, Daniel," said Herbert, who happened to overhear his soliloquy; "it is always better to do what is right, without waiting to consult our own inclination." "Do you think this is necessary, sir?" asked the man in a suppressed and irresolute tone. "Nay, I would rather not interfere,” replied Herbert, turning smilingly away: 66 though there can be no harm in reminding you that he might have refused his son's request, had he felt so disposed." "That's true," ruminated Mortice: "well, I suppose it'll have to be. Here, my boys," he added, lifting his rugged voice, "let's give a cheer for the master." "A cheer for the master!" was repeated on all sides and, though neither so loud nor so long as the others, Mr. Snapson was in no mood |