Some irregularity or insubordination had occurred in one of the rooms, which Sebastian had been discussing with Mr. Sutcliffe, and the latter had said that some one must be told off on the following day to superintend that room--some one in authority. The following morning Sebastian, coming down to the works, entered the outer office, and found Wilson and Myles there. ‘Has Mr. Sutcliffe come?’ he inquired. ‘Yes, sir,’ said Wilson. ‘He’s in his room.’ ‘Did he give any orders about the beaming-room?’ ‘No, sir. He hasn’t mentioned it to me.’ ‘Oh! Well, Heywood, you had better go there and look over them this morning. I can’t have them idling about as they have been doing. You had better go at once.’ With that, and without waiting for any answer, he stepped forward into the inner office, and closed the door after him. Myles went on with his work for some minutes, and then rose. ‘If you go to the beaming-room,’ observed Wilson, ‘I must take your place in the warehouse myself, I suppose.’ ‘I’m not going to the beaming-room,’ was the tranquil reply. ‘Not going! But the master----’ ‘I’m not a Jack-of-all-trades. I know what my business is, and how long it will take me to do it. It is not my business to overlook the beaming-room.’ ‘But Mr. Mallory didn’t know that.’ ‘So it appears,’ said Myles, with a disagreeable smile. ‘He’ll know it for the future. It’s all in the way of learning. You can find some one else to overlook the beamers. I’m off to the warehouse.’ With which he departed, leaving Wilson aghast. It was through a mere casual question to Wilson that Sebastian found out, later, what had happened. Wilson’s evident confusion aroused his suspicions. Dropping his careless tone, he promptly bade the overlooker tell him all that had passed. Wilson stammered out the whole story, even to Myles’s remark about it ‘all being in the way of learning,’ and then stood, looking miserable, and feeling no less so, listening for the command, ‘Send Heywood to me.’ But the command did not come, and Wilson concluded that the dismissal would perhaps be given through Mr. Sutcliffe. That it would be given, and that promptly, he did not doubt, nor was he reassured by the perfect calm and good temper of Mr. Mallory’s expression. Several days passed, and still Myles Heywood, without let or hindrance, pursued his usual avocations undisturbed; and still Mr. Mallory, calm and good-tempered as ever, continued to learn away at his business; and still he made no remark upon the act of flagrant insubordination which had taken place. Saturday came some three days after the occurrence just described. It was late in the afternoon, and work had been over for an hour and a half, but the mill was not yet closed, for Mr. Mallory and Mr. Sutcliffe were in the inner office, in consultation, and Ben, the office boy, stood lounging outside, wishing that his superiors would bring their parley to an end and let him lock up and get home to his holiday.