What Mr. James Jones might have retorted in his disappointment, was stopped by the entrance of several men who came in together. It was the "deputation;" the men chosen to go round the city that day and ask for work or alms. The interest aroused by their appearance overpowered petty warfare. "Well, and how have ye sped?" was the eager general question, as the men found seats. "We went round, thirteen of us, upon empty stomachs, and we left them at home empty too," replied a tidy-looking man with a stoop in his shoulders; "but we've done next to no good. Thorp, he has gone home; we gave him the money out of what we've collected for a loaf o' bread, for his wife and children's bad a-bed, and nigh clammed besides. The tale goes, too, that things are getting worse." "They can't get worse, Read." "Yes, they can; there was a meeting to-day of the masters. Did you hear of it?" Of course the men had heard of it. Little took place in the town, touching on their interests, that they did not hear of. "Then perhaps you've heard the measure that was proposed at it--to reduce the wages again. It was carried, too. George Arkell & Son's was the only firm that held out against it." "Nobody has held out for us all along like Mr. Arkell," observed one who had not yet spoken. "He was a young man when these troubles first fell on the city, and he's middle-aged now, but never once throughout all the years has his voice been raised against us." "True," said Read; "and when he speaks to us it is kindly and sympathizingly, like the gentleman he is, and as if _we_ were fellow human beings, which they don't all do. Some of the masters don't care whether we starve or live; they are as selfish as they are high. Mr. Arkell has large means and an open hand; it's said he has the interests of us operatives at heart as much as he has his own; for my part, I believe it. His contribution to-day was a sovereign--more than twice as much as anybody else gave us." "And why not!" broke in Mr. James Jones "If Arkells have got plenty--and it's well known they have--it's only right they should help us." "As to their having such plenty, I can't say about that," dissented Markham--a superior man, and the manager of a large firm. "They have kept on making largely, and they must lose at times. It stands to reason, as things have been. Of course they had plenty of money to fall back upon. Everybody knows that; and Mr. Arkell has preferred to sacrifice some of that money--all honour to him--rather than turn off to destitution the men who have grown old in his service, and in his father's before him." "It's true, it's true," murmured the men. "God bless Mr. William Arkell!" "It's said that young Mr. Travice is to be brought up to the business, so things can't be very bad with them."