human
I don't see why I should bear insolence from Matthew Yorke, or what right he has to use bad language to me,
gpt
He has no right, my lad; but forgive your brother until seventy-and-seven times,
human
Always alike, and theory and practice always adverse!
gpt
Where art thou going, my son?
human
Somewhere where I shall be safe from insult, if in this house I can find any such place.
gpt
I suppose there is no objection to my withdrawing?
human
No. Go, my lad; but remember not to bear malice.
gpt
Martin is grieved, and you are glad; but I would rather be Martin than you. I dislike your nature.
human
May I speak a word with you?
gpt
Have you employment for a good workman?
human
A nonsense question in these times, when you know that every master has many good workmen to whom he cannot give full employment.
gpt
You must oblige me by taking on this man, if possible.
human
My lad, I can take on no more hands to oblige all England.
gpt
It does not signify; I must find him a place somewhere.
human
Who is he?
gpt
William Farren.
human
I know William. A right-down honest man is William.
gpt
He has been out of work three months. He has a large family. We are sure they cannot live without wages. He was one of the deputation of cloth-dressers who came to me this morning to complain and threaten. William did not threaten. He only asked me to give them rather more time--to make my changes more slowly. You know I cannot do that: straitened on all sides as I am, I have nothing for it but to push on. I thought it would be idle to palaver long with them. I sent them away, after arresting a rascal amongst them, whom I hope to transport--a fellow who preaches at the chapel yonder sometimes.
human
Not Moses Barraclough?
gpt
Yes.
human
Ah! you've arrested him? Good! Then out of a scoundrel you're going to make a martyr. You've done a wise thing.
gpt
I've done a right thing. Well, the short and the long of it is, I'm determined to get Farren a place, and I reckon on you to give him one.
human
This is cool, however! exclaimed Mr. Yorke.
gpt
What right have you to reckon on me to provide for your dismissed workmen? What do I know about your Farrens and your Williams? I've heard he's an honest man, but am I to support all the honest men in Yorkshire? You may say that would be no great charge to undertake; but great or little, I'll none of it.
human
Come, Mr. Yorke, what can you find for him to do?
gpt
You can't give him work in your mill--good; but you have land. Find him some occupation on your land, Mr. Yorke.
human
Bob, I thought you cared nothing about our _lourdauds de paysans_. I don't understand this change.
gpt
I do. The fellow spoke to me nothing but truth and sense. I answered him just as roughly as I did the rest, who jabbered mere gibberish. I couldn't make distinctions there and then. His appearance told what he had gone through lately clearer than his words; but where is the use of explaining? Let him have work.
human
Let him have it yourself. If you are so very much in earnest, strain a point.
gpt
If there was a point left in my affairs to strain, I would strain it till it cracked again; but I received letters this morning which showed me pretty clearly where I stand, and it is not far off the end of the plank. My foreign market, at any rate, is gorged. If there is no change--if there dawns no prospect of peace--if the Orders in Council are not, at least, suspended, so as to open our way in the West--I do not know where I am to turn. I see no more light than if I were sealed in a rock, so that for me to pretend to offer a man a livelihood would be to do a dishonest thing.
human
Come, let us take a turn on the front. It is a starlight night,
gpt
Settle about Farren at once, urged Mr. Moore.
human
You have large fruit-gardens at Yorke Mills. He is a good gardener. Give him work there.
gpt
Well, so be it. I'll send for him to-morrow, and we'll see. And now, my lad, you're concerned about the condition of your affairs?
human
Yes, a second failure--which I may delay, but which, at this moment, I see no way finally to avert--would blight the name of Moore completely; and you are aware I had fine intentions of paying off every debt and re-establishing the old firm on its former basis.
gpt
You want capital--that's all you want.
human
Yes; but you might as well say that breath is all a dead man wants to live.
gpt
I know--I know capital is not to be had for the asking; and if you were a married man, and had a family, like me, I should think your case pretty nigh desperate; but the young and unencumbered have chances peculiar to themselves. I hear gossip now and then about your being on the eve of marriage with this miss and that; but I suppose it is none of it true?
human
You may well suppose that. I think I am not in a position to be dreaming of marriage. Marriage! I cannot bear the word; it sounds so silly and utopian. I have settled it decidedly that marriage and love are superfluities, intended only for the rich, who live at ease, and have no need to take thought for the morrow; or desperations--the last and reckless joy of the deeply wretched, who never hope to rise out of the slough of their utter poverty.
gpt
I should not think so if I were circumstanced as you are. I should think I could very likely get a wife with a few thousands, who would suit both me and my affairs.
human
I wonder where?
gpt
Would you try if you had a chance?
human
I don't know. It depends on--in short, it depends on many things.
gpt
Would you take an old woman?
human
I'd rather break stones on the road.
gpt
So would I. Would you take an ugly one?
human
Bah! I hate ugliness and delight in beauty. My eyes and heart, Yorke, take pleasure in a sweet, young, fair face, as they are repelled by a grim, rugged, meagre one. Soft delicate lines and hues please, harsh ones prejudice me. I won't have an ugly wife.
gpt
Not if she were rich?
human
Not if she were dressed in gems. I could not love--I could not fancy--I could not endure her. My taste must have satisfaction, or disgust would break out in despotism, or worse--freeze to utter iciness.
gpt
What! Bob, if you married an honest, good-natured, and wealthy lass, though a little hard-favoured, couldn't you put up with the high cheek-bones, the rather wide mouth, and reddish hair?
human
I'll never try, I tell you. Grace at least I _will_ have, and youth and symmetry--yes, and what I call beauty.
gpt
And poverty, and a nursery full of bairns you can neither clothe nor feed, and very soon an anxious, faded mother; and then bankruptcy, discredit--a life-long struggle.
human
Let me alone, Yorke.
gpt
If you are romantic, Robert, and especially if you are already in love, it is of no use talking.
human
I am not romantic. I am stripped of romance as bare as the white tenters in that field are of cloth.
gpt
Always use such figures of speech, lad; I can understand them. And there is no love affair to disturb your judgment?
human
I thought I had said enough on that subject before. Love for me? Stuff!
gpt
Well, then, if you are sound both in heart and head, there is no reason why you should not profit by a good chance if it offers; therefore, wait and see.
human
You are quite oracular, Yorke.
gpt
I think I am a bit i' that line. I promise ye naught and I advise ye naught; but I bid ye keep your heart up, and be guided by circumstances.
human
My namesake the physician's almanac could not speak more guardedly.
gpt
In the meantime, I care naught about ye, Robert Moore: ye are nothing akin to me or mine, and whether ye lose or find a fortune it maks no difference to me. Go home, now. It has stricken ten. Miss Hortense will be wondering where ye are.