"I think you come into the world speaking," cried Joe Banks, roughly. "Get down off that cheer, and say your say like a man." "This sort of interruption is not parliamentary," cried Sim. "It isn't, is it?" The gentleman from town shook his head. "Theer," cried Sim, "the deppitation says as it isn't." "Look here, men," cried Joe Banks, speaking excitedly, "I come here to-night to join you. You wanted me wi' you before, but I wouldn't come, because I was in the cause o' raight. I wouldn't gi'e up my position as a straightforward man for to faight for a few beggarly shillings a week." There were some murmurs of discontent here, but the foreman did not seem to hear them, and went on. "The side of raight is the side of raight no longer, and I'm wi' you, for I'll work no more for one who has done me as great a wrong as he can do." "He hev, Joe Banks, he hev, and we'll let him know it," cried several. "No, no," cried Banks; "no more attacks on him; we've had enew o' that. Strike him through his pocket; let him feel it where we've felt it; but mind this, the lad as raises hand again the house where them two women are, raises it again me." Amidst the loud cheering that followed, Sim Slee, who would not be repressed, climbed upon the table in front of his chair, shouting-- "He's roused at last, lads. He's a-takking the iron foot of the despot from his brow, and come to straike for freedom." There was a loud cheer at this, and Sim's vanity was gratified. "Now," cried Banks, "what are you going to do? You've got some plans?" "Theer," cried Sim; "what did I tell you? Didn't I say as he'd come to uz? Yes, Joe Banks, our new brother, we're going to set the eyes of all England starting out of its head, to see us strike for our raights. We're a-going to--Hey?" "Stop!" whispered Barker. "See to the doors there. We've a man present as isn't sworn. He must take the oath." "Didn't I say," cried Joe Banks, fiercely, "that I'd be answerable for him?" "But I'm not going to join their plans, Joe Banks," said Tom, in a low voice. "Raight," said Banks, shortly. "Go on, Sim Slee." "Then look here, mates. Here's what we're a-going to do. Bring that theer keg." Two men dragged a keg from a cupboard, and placed it on the table. "Them as is smoking is to go to the other end of the room," said Sim, and there was a sudden movement amongst the men, the deputation not being the last. "Now then," said Sim, "who's got a knife?" Joe Banks took a big clasp-knife from his pocket, and threw it upon the table, Sim picking it up, and beginning to open it as he went on talking. "Here's my plan. We're a-going to open the eyes o' lots of places as thowt they was very big in their way; and--Hello, where didst thou get this knife fro', Joe Banks?--it's mine."