"Theer he is!" she said, and her companion turned with her and they both stopped talking to look after him.
Before returning he went up to his partner's house. He asked for Miss Ffrench and was shown into the room where she sat writing letters. She neither looked pleased nor displeased when she saw him, but rose to greet him at once. She gave him a rather long look.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
Suddenly he felt less bold. The heat of his excitement failed to sustain him. He was all unstrung.
"I've come to tell you not to go out," he said. "There's trouble afoot—in the trade. There's no knowing how it'll turn out. There's a lot of chaps in th' town who are not in th' mood to see aught that'll fret 'em. They're ready for mischief, and have got drink in 'em. Stay you here until we see which way th' thing's going."
"Do you mean," she demanded, "that there are signs of a strike?"
"There's more than signs of it," he answered, sullenly. "Before night the whole place will be astir."
She moved across the room and pulled the bell. A servant answered the summons instantly.
"I want the carriage," she said.
Then she turned to Haworth with a smile of actual triumph.
"Nothing would keep me at home," she said. "I shall drive through the town and back again. Do you think I will let them fancy that I am afraid of them?"
"You're not afraid?" he said, almost in a whisper.
"I afraid?" she answered, "I?"
"Wait here," she added. She left the room, and in less than ten minutes returned. He had never before
