English fiction -- 19th century; Labor unions -- Fiction
“You did not keep your word, sir,” said Grace, quietly.
“No,” he muttered, and hung his head.
He seemed so confused and ashamed, that Bayne came to his assistance.
“The fact is, no workman likes to do a hand's-turn on Saturday
afternoon. I think they would rather break Sunday than Saturday.”
“It is not that,” said Henry, in a low voice.
Grace heard him, but answered Mr. Bayne: “Oh dear, I wish I had known. I
fear I have made an unreasonable request: for, of course, after working
so hard all the week--but then why did you let me purchase the tools to
carve with? Papa says they are very dear, Mr. Bayne. But that is what
gentlemen always say if one buys anything that is really good. But of
course they WILL be dear, if I am not to be taught how to use them.”
She then looked in Mr. Bayne's face with an air of infantine simplicity:
“Would Mr. Cheetham take them back, I wonder, under the circumstances?”
At this sly thrust, Bayne began to look anxious; but Henry relieved him
the next moment by saying, in a sort of dogged way, “There, there; I'll
come.” He added, after a pause, “I will give you six lessons, if you
like.”
“I shall be so much obliged. When will you come, sir?”
“Next Saturday, at three o'clock.”
“I shall be sure to be at home, sir.”
She then said something polite about not disturbing him further, and
vanished with an arch smile of pleasure and victory, that disclosed a
row of exquisite white teeth, and haunted Henry Little for many a day
after.
He told his mother what had happened, and showed so much mortified pride
that she no longer dissuaded him from keeping his word. “Only pray don't
tell her your name,” said she.
“Well, but what am I to do if she asks it?”
“Say Thompson, or Johnson, or anything you like, except Little.”
This request roused Henry's bile. “What, am I a criminal to deny my
name? And how shall I look, if I go and give her a false name, and then
she comes to Bayne and learns my right one? No, I'll keep my name back,
if I can; but I'll never disown it. I'm not ashamed of it, if you are.”
This reduced poor Mrs. Little to silence; followed, in due course, by a
few meek, clandestine tears.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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