“Oh, very well. If you think to frighten a man like Mr. Sartwell with great talk, you’ll be disappointed.” Marsten turned away, and found Braunt standing outside the gates. “Ah’m waitin’ for ’ee, lad, and Ah thought thou might ’a gone oot wi’ first lot, but porter said thou hadn’t. Coom whoam wi’ me, Marsten; Ah’m main lonely an’ want some’un ta speak wi’. Ah donno what’s wrong wi’ me, but there’s summat. Ma head’s queer. Ah’m hearin’ the _Dead March_ night and day, an’ it’s soundin’ solemner an’ solemner till it frightens me. Will ye walk wi’ me, lad?” “Yes, willingly. Don’t you find your work makes things easier? I thought that would help.” “Ah’ve been too long idle, lad. Work doesn’t do what it used to. Ah used to lose maself in’t, but now Ah just seem in a dream, thinkin’, thinkin’; an’ when one speaks ta me sudden, Ah have to pull maself back from a distance like, before Ah can understand what’s said; an’ all th’ while the throb d’ the machinery is beat in’ out the _Dead March_. Once or twice Ah’ve seen Langly sittin’ playin’ at the far end o’ the room wi’ the machines all answerin’ to his fingers, while Ah knew he’d ne’er been i’ the shops in’s life. Ah’ve stood there wi’ ma jaw hangin’ an’ wi’ people lookin’ at me curious. Then when Ah’d rubbed ma eyes, Langly was gone, but the machinery kept on an’ on.” “Oh, you mustn’t think too much about what is past, Braunt. Everything will be all right in a little while. Stick hard at your work; that’s the main thing. You are foreman of the upper room now, aren’t you?” “Yes. Sartwell’s been kind ta me. Ah! he’s a man, Sartwell is. There’s no waverin’ about him.” “That’s true.” “He sticks by them as sticks by him, as a man should. Has he said anythin’ to you, since the strike ended?” “No.” “You’re young, but your time’ll come. You stand by Sartwell an’ he’ll see you through. He knows how you tried to end the strike, an’ he’ll not forget. Ah’ll drop in a word for ye when Ah get the chance.” “I wish you wouldn’t do that.” “Why? It’ll do no harm.” “It will do no good.” Braunt paused in his walk and looked closely at his companion. “What’s the matter wi’ thee, lad? Ye seem cast down, an’ here Ah’m talkin’ away about maself, an’ payin’ no heed to aught else. What’s wrong wi’ ye?” “Well, as you will have to know sooner or later, and there’s no use making a secret of it, Sartwell has discharged me.” “No!” cried Braunt, incredulously, stopping short and turning to his friend. “Yes, he has.” “In God’s name, what for?” “No reason was given. The cashier gave me a month’s wages and told me to go. I gave back three-fourths of it, for I’m entitled to but a week’s notice. I’ll have no favour from Sartwell.” “Ah, lad, there ye were foolish. Never give back money when you’ve got your fingers on it. Ye hurt yourself an’ not the others. Still, Ah’d very likely a’ done the same thing; but then, Ah’m a fool, an’ not to be taken pattern by. Have ye asked Sartwell the reason?”