The manufacturers silently wondered as to the condition of each other's mills, and the landed gentry had in their minds a fear of the ability of the land to meet the demands that were likely to be made upon it.
It was a happy turn of feeling that followed an impetuous, unanimous call for song, and Harry rose in their midst and made the room ring to, "Ye mariners of England, That guard our native seas, Whose flag has braved a thousand years, The battle and the breeze.
"Britannia needs no bulwarks, No towers along the steep, Her march is on the mountain waves, Her home is on the deep.
"The meteor flag of England! Shall yet terrific burn, Till Danger's troubled night depart, And the Star of Peace return." The last line spoke for every heart, and the honest, proud, joyous burst of loyalty and admiration made men and women something more than men and women for a few glorified moments.

Then the satisfied lull that followed was thrilled anew by that most delicious charmful music ever written, "O sweetest melody!" This was the event of the evening.

It drew Harry close to every heart.

It made his mother the proudest woman in Yorkshire.

It caused John to smile at his brother and to clasp his hand as he passed him.