Stephen must have been at the mill early.

_Why ?_ Then she recalled John's look of love and pride in the boy, his watchful care over him, his laughter and apparent cheerfulness.
She brooded over these things for some hours, then gave her thought speech and in slow, icy tones said with intense feeling, "Of course, he regards Stephen as the future master of Hatton Hall and Hatton factory.
He is always bringing Stephen and my Martha together.

He intends them to marry.

They shall not.

Martha is mine--she is Harlow"-- then after a long pause, "They are cousins.