He went over his books and brought all transactions up to date, and accompanied by Greenwood made a careful inspection of every loom, noted what repairs or alterations were necessary, and hired a sufficient number of boys to oil and dust the looms regularly to keep the mill clean and all the metal work bright and shining.

So it was well on in the afternoon when he turned homeward.
Jane met him at the park gates, and they talked the subject over under the green trees with the scent of the sweetbriar everywhere and the April sunshine over every growing thing.

She was a great help and comfort.

He felt her encouraging smiles and words to be like wine and music, and when they sat down to dinner together, they were a wonder to their household.

They did not speak of the closed mill and they did not look like people who expected a hard and sorrowful time.
"They hev a bit o' money laid by for theirsens," said the selfish who judged others out of their own hearts; but the majority answered quickly, "Not they! Not a farthing! Hatton hes spent his last shilling to keep Hatton mill going, and how he is going to open it when peace comes caps everyone who can add this and that together." The first week of idleness was not the worst.