“You see what a storm you’ve raised,” said Inman, looking across at his wife, who was sitting back in her chair, pleating the edge of the tablecloth between her fingers. His voice was stern but there was a scornful look in his eye which partly counteracted the tone. As she made no reply he turned to his master. “If you hadn’t lost your temper you wouldn’t blame me for what I couldn’t hinder. It isn’t my fault that Nancy wasn’t here to help with the dinner, and I’ve said it shan’t happen again. I can say no more. As to turning us out neck and crop——” he paused and looked significantly at Baldwin who scowled in reply; “perhaps Nancy and I had better talk things over between ourselves.” There was no mistaking the veiled threat though the voice was quite calm, and Baldwin fired again; but before he could speak Inman continued in a more conciliatory tone. “I meant no offence in what I said a while back, and nobody can say that I’ve tried to be master. I’ve served you well, and you know it, but if we can’t live peaceably together we must make other arrangements. Hadn’t we best let t’ matter drop now and get on with our dinner?” “I’m sure,” said Keturah with a timid glance at her brother who had at length suffered himself to fill Nancy’s plate and push it across the table; “it’s no wish o’ mine to make trouble; but there’s things flesh and blood can’t stomach, and when a body isn’t as young as she once was it stands to reason ’at she can’t be expected to wait hand and foot on them ’at’s years younger——” Nancy rose and walked round Keturah’s chair in order to reach the mustard, and Inman smiled grimly though he remarked: “It isn’t to be expected. Nancy didn’t give it a thought or she wouldn’t have done it; but as you’ll have no reason to complain again I’d let it drop now if I were you.” Nancy smiled provokingly and by ill-luck Baldwin saw her and his wrath blazed out afresh. He had been only half placated by Inman’s smooth words—indeed his foreman’s coolness always irritated him more than an outburst of temper as he had sense enough to know that it placed him at a disadvantage. He now turned to Nancy, the veins on his forehead swelling into tense blue cords. “You ——!” Imagination must supply the coarse expressions that sent Keturah’s hands to her ears and a scowl to Inman’s brow. “You sit there making game o’ us; same as you’d naught to do but pull t’ strings and we should all dance to your tune. But you’ve t’ wrong pig by t’ ear, I can tell you, when you’ve Baldwin Briggs to deal wi’. A nice fool I should ha’ been to turn t’ business over to another man just because you’ve wed him. Shut your mouth!” he roared, turning angrily about as Inman interjected a word; “You’ve had your say; and I don’t doubt but what you’re hand-in-glove wi’ t’ lass for all your smooth talk. Partners! I’ll see you both blaze first. I wasn’t born i’ a frost. ‘Do nowt and take all!’ that’s your motto.”