Not being at any time specially shrewd in the study of human nature, it must be confessed that Mr. Ffrench was not prepared for the reception he met with in the owner's room. In his previous rare interviews with Jem Haworth he had been accorded but slight respect. His advances had been met in a manner savoring of rough contempt, his ephemeral hobbies disposed of with the amiable candor of the practical and not too polished mind; he knew he had been jeered at openly at times, and now the man who had regarded him lightly and as if he felt that he held the upper hand, received him almost with a confused, self-conscious air. He even flushed when he got up and awkwardly shook hands. "Perhaps," said his visitor to himself, "events have taught him to feel the lack in himself after all." "I looked forward, before my return, to calling upon you," he said aloud. "And I am glad to have the opportunity at last." Haworth reseated himself after giving him a chair, and answered with a nod and a somewhat incoherent welcome. Ffrench settled himself with an agreeable consciousness of being less at a loss before the man than he had ever been in his life. "What I have seen abroad," he said, "has added to the interest I have always felt in our own manufactures. You know that is a thing I have always cared for most. People have called it my hobby, though I don't think that is quite the right name for it. You have done a great deal since I went away." "I shall do more yet," said Haworth with effort, "before I've done with the thing." "You've done a good deal for Broxton. The place has grown wonderfully. Those cottages of yours are good work." Haworth warmed up. His hand fell upon the table before him heavily. "It's not Broxton I'm aimin' at," he said. "Broxton's naught to me. I'll have good work or none. It's this place here I'm at work on. I've said I'd set 'Haworth's' above 'em all, and I'll do it." "You've done it already," answered Ffrench. "Ay, but I tell you I'll set it higher yet. I've got the money and I've got the will. There's none on 'em can back down Jem Haworth." "No," said Ffrench, suddenly and unaccountably conscious of a weakness in himself and his position. He did not quite understand the man. His heat was a little confusing. "This," he decided mentally, "is _his_ hobby." He sat and listened with real excitement as Haworth launched out more freely and with a stronger touch of braggadocio.