to him that hath-第12部分

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mother's　eyebrows　went　up。　　〃In　the　party；　I　mean。　　And　the　most
popular。　　Why；　I　remember　quite　well　that　Rupert　was　quite　devoted
to　her。〃

〃A　mere　child；　she　was　then；　you　know；〃　said　Rupert。

〃She　is　just　as　bright；　just　as　attractive；　as　clever　now；　more　so
indeed；　as　fine　a　girl　in　every　way。　　But　of　course　she　was　not　a
factory　girl　then。　　That's　what　you　mean；〃　replied　Patricia
scornfully。

〃She　has　found　her　class；〃　persisted　Rupert。　　〃She　is　all　you　say；
but　surely〃

〃Yes；　she　is　working　in　the　new　box　factory。　　Her　mother；　lazy；
selfish　thing；　took　her　from　the　High　School。〃

〃My　dear　Patricia；　you　are　quite　violent；〃　protested　her　mother。

〃It's　true；　Mamma；〃　continued　the　girl；　her　eyes　agleam；　〃and　now
she　works　in　the　box　factory　while　Captain　Jack　works　in　the
planing　mill。　　She　is　in　the　same　class。〃

〃And　good　friends　apparently；〃　said　Rupert　with　a　malicious　little
grin。

〃Why　not？　　We　would　have　Captain　Jack　to　dinner；　but　not　Annette。〃

Her　father　smiled　at　her。　　〃Well　done；　little　girl。　　Annette　is　a
fine　girl　and　is　fortunate　in　her　champion。　　You　can　have　her　to
dinner　any　evening；　I　am　quite　sure。〃

〃Can　we；　Mamma？〃

〃My　dear；　we　will　not　discuss　the　matter　any　further；〃　said　her
mother。　　〃It　is　a　very　old　question　and　very　perplexing；　I　confess；
but〃

〃We　don't　see　Captain　Jack　very　much　since　his　return；〃　said　her
father；　turning　the　conversation。　　〃You　might　begin　with　him；　eh；
Patsy？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　girl；　a　shade　falling　on　her　face。　　〃He　is　always
busy。　　He　has　such　long　hours。　　He　works　his　day's　work　with　the
men　and　then　he　always　goes　up　to　the　office　to　his　fatherand
andOh；　I　don't　know；　I　wish　he　would　come。　　He's　not〃　　Patricia
fell　suddenly　silent。

〃Jack　is　very　much　engaged；〃　said　her　mother　quietly。

〃Naturally　he　is　tied　up；　learning　the　business；　I　mean；〃　said　the
elder　sister　quietly。　　〃He　has　little　time　for　mere　social
frivolities　and　that　sort　of　thing。〃

〃It's　not　that；　Adrien；〃　said　Patricia。　　〃He　is　different　since　he
came　back。　　I　wish〃　　She　paused　abruptly。

〃He　is　changed；〃　said　her　mother　with　a　sigh。　　〃Theythe　boys　are
all　changed。〃

〃The　war　has　left　its　mark　upon　them；　and　what　else　can　we　expect？〃
said　Dr。　Templeton。　　〃One　wonders　how　they　can　settle　down　at　all
to　work。〃

〃Oh；　Jack　has　settled　down　all　right；〃　said　Patricia；　as　if
analysing　a　subject　interesting　to　herself　alone。　　〃Jack's　not　like
a　lot　of　them。　　He's　too　much　settled　down。　　What　is　it；　I　wonder？
He　seems　to　have　quit　everything；　dancing；　tennis；　golf。　　He
doesn't　care〃

〃Doesn't　care？　　What　for？　　That　sounds　either　as　if　he　were　an
egotist　or　a　slacker。〃　　Her　sister's　words　rasped　Patricia's　most
sensitive　heart　string。　　She　visibly　squirmed；　eagerly　waiting　a
chance　to　reply。　　〃Jack　is　neither；〃　continued　Adrien　slowly。　　〃I
understand　the　thing　perfectly。　　He　has　been　up　against　big　things；
so　big　that　everything　else　seems　trivial。　　Fancy　a　tennis
tournament　for　a　man　that　has　stared　into　hell's　mouth。〃

〃My　dear；　you　are　right；〃　said　her　father。　　〃Patricia　is　really
talking　too　much。　　Young　people　should〃

〃I　know；　Daddy'be　seen；'〃　said　the　younger　daughter；　and　grinning
affectionately　at　him　she　blew　him　a　kiss。　　〃But；　all　the　same；　I
wish　Captain　Jack　were　not　so　awfully　busy　or　were　a　little　more
keen　about　things。　　He　wants　something　to　stir　him　up。〃

〃He　may　get　that　sooner　than　he　thinks；〃　said　Stillwell；　〃or
wishes。　　I　hear　there's　likely　to　be　trouble　in　the　mills。〃

〃Trouble？　　Financial？　　I　should　be　very　sorry；〃　said　Dr。　Templeton。

〃No。　　Labour。　　The　whole　labour　world　is　in　a　ferment。　　The
Maitlands　can　hardly　expect　to　escape。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　the
row　has　made　a　little　start；　I　happen　to　know。〃

〃These　labour　troubles　are　really　very　distressing。　　There　is　no
end　to　them；〃　said　Mrs。　Templeton；　with　the　resignation　one　shows
in　discussing　the　inscrutable　ways　of　Providence。　　〃It　does　seem　as
if　the　working　classes　to…day　have　got　quite　beyond　all　bounds。
One　wonders　what　they　will　demand　next。　　What　is　the　trouble　now；
Rupert？　　Of　coursewages。〃

〃Oh；　the　eternal　old　trouble　is　there；　with　some　new　ones　added
that　make　even　wages　seem　small。〃

〃And　what　are　these？〃　enquired　Dr。　Templeton。

〃Oh；　division　of　profits；　share　in　administration　and　control。〃

〃Division　of　profits　in　addition　to　wages？〃　enquired　Mrs。　Templeton；
aghast。　　〃But；　how　dreadful。　　One　would　think　they　actually　owned
the　factory。〃

〃That　is　the　modern　doctrine；　I　believe；〃　said　Rupert。

〃Surely　that　is　an　extreme　statement；〃　said　Dr。　Templeton；　in　a
shocked　voice；　〃or　you　are　talking　of　the　very　radical　element
only。〃

〃The　Rads　lead；　of　course；　but　you　would　be　surprised　at　the
demands　made　to…day。　　Why；　I　heard　a　young　chap　last　week；　a　soap…
box　artist；　denouncing　all　capitalists　as　parasites。　　'Why　should
we　work　for　anyone　but　ourselves？'　he　was　saying。　　'Why　don't　we
take　charge　of　the　factories　and　run　them　for　the　general　good？'
I　assure　you；　sir；　those　were　his　very　words。〃

〃Really；　Rupert；　you　amaze　me。　　In　Blackwater　here？〃　exclaimed　Dr。
Templeton。

〃But；　my　dear　papa；　that　sort　of　thing　is　the　commonplace　of　Hyde
Park；　you　know；〃　said　Adrien；　〃and〃

〃Ah；　Hyde　Park；　yes。　　I　should　expect　that　sort　of　thing　from　the
Hyde　Park　orators。　　You　get　every　sort　of　mad　doctrine　in　Hyde
Park；　as　I　remember　it；　but〃

〃And　I　was　going　to　say　that　that　sort　of　thing　has　got　away　beyond
Hyde　Park。　　Why；　papa　dear；　you　have　been　so　engrossed　in　your
Higher　Mathematics　that　you　have　failed　to　keep　up　with　the　times。〃
His　eldest　daughter　smiled　at　him　and；　reaching　across　the　corner
of　the　table；　patted　his　hand　affectionately。　　〃We　are　away　beyond
being　shocked　at　profit　sharing；　and　even　sharing　in　control　of
administration　and　that　sort　of　thing。〃

〃But　there　remains　justice；　I　hope；〃　said　her　father；　〃and　the
right　of　ownership。〃

〃Ah；　that's　just　itwhat　is　ownership？〃

〃Oh；　come；　Adrien；〃　said　Rupert；　〃you　are　not　saying　that　Mr。
Maitland　doesn't　own　his　factory　and　mill。〃

〃It　depends　on　what　you　mean　by　own；〃　said　the　girl　coolly。　　〃You
must　not　take　too　much　for　granted。〃

〃Well；　what　my　money　pays　for　I　own；　I　suppose；〃　said　Rupert。

〃Well；〃　said　Adrien；　〃that　depends。〃

〃My　dear　Adrien；〃　said　her　mother；　〃you　have　such　strange　notions。
I　suppose　you　got　them　in　those　Clubs　in　London　and　from　those
queer　people　you　used　to　meet。〃

〃Very　dear　people；〃　said　Adrien；　with　a　far　away　look　in　her　eyes；
〃and　people　that　loved　justice　and　right。〃

〃All　right；　Ade；〃　said　her　younger　sister；　with　a　saucy　grin；　〃I
agree　entirely　with　your　sentiments。　　I　just　adore　that　pale　blue
tie　of　yours。　　I　suppose；　now　that　what's　yours　is　mine；　I　can
preempt　that　when　I　like。〃

〃Let　me　catch　you　at　it！〃

〃Well　done；　Patricia。　　You　see　the　theories　are　all　right　till　we
come　to　have　them　applied　all　round；〃　said　Rupert。

〃We　were　talking　of　joint　ownership；　Pat；〃　said　her　sister；　〃the
joint　ownership　of　things　to　the　making　of　which　we　have　each
contributed　a　part。〃

〃Exactly；〃　said　Rupert。　　〃I　guess　Grant　Maitland　paid　his　own　good
money　for　his　plant。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Adrien。

〃Yes；　and　all　he　paid　for　he　owns。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　that's　all　there　is　to　it。〃

〃Oh；　pardon　methere　is　a　good　deal　more〃

〃Well；　well；　children；　we　shall　not　discuss　the　subject　any
further。　　Shall　we　all　go　up　for　coffee？〃

〃These　are　very　radical　views　you　are　advancing；　Adrien；〃　said　her
father；　rising　from　his　chair。　　〃You　must　be　careful　not　to　say
things　like　that　in　circles　where　you　might　be　taken　seriously。〃

〃Seriously；　Daddy？　　I　was　never　more　serious　in　my　life。〃　　She　put
her　arm　through　her　father's。　　〃I　must　give　you　some　books；　some
reports　to　read；　I　see；〃　she　said；　laughing　up　into　his　face。

〃Evidently；〃　said　her　father；　〃if　I　am　to　live　with　you。〃

〃I　wonder　what　Captain　Jack　would　think　of　these　views；〃　said
Rupert；　dropping　into　step　with　Patricia　as　they　left　the　dining
room　together。

〃He　will　think　as　Adrien　does；〃　said　Patricia　stoutly。

〃Ah；　I　wouldn't　be　too　sure　about　that；〃　said　Rupert。　　〃You　see；　it
makes　a　difference　whose　ox　is　being　gored。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　cried　Patricia　hotly。

〃Never　mind；　Pat；〃　said　her　sister　over　her　shoulder。　　〃I　don't
think　he　knows　Captain　Jack　as　we　do。〃

〃Perhaps　better；〃　said　Rupert　in　a　significant　tone。

Patricia　drew　away　from　him。

〃I　think　you　are　just　horrid；〃　she　said。　　〃Captain　Jack　is〃

〃Never　mind；　dear。　　Don't　let　him　pull　your　leg　like　that；〃　said
her　sister；　with　a　little　colour　in　her　cheek。　　〃We　know　Captain
Jack；　don't　we？〃

〃We　do！〃　said　Patricia　with　enthusiasm。

〃We　do！〃　echoed　Rupert；　with　a　smile　that　drove　Pat　into　a　fury。



CHAPTER　VI

THE　GRIEVANCE　COMMITTEE


There　was　trouble　at　the　Maitland　Mills。　　For　the　first　time　in　his
history　Grant　Maitland　found　his　men　look　askance　at　him。　　For　the
first　time　in　his　life　he　found　himself　viewing　with　suspicion　the
workers　whom　he　had　always　taken　a　pride　in　designating　〃my　men。〃
The　situation　was　at　once　galling　to　his　pride　and　shocking　to　his
sense　of　fair　play。　　His　men　were　his　comrades　in　w