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THE HAND THAT TURNS BACK.
185

just as good a thing to keep five hundred Yorkshire lasses at work in their own village. It's a bad thing when mill-hands hev to run here and there for work. Home's a full cup, Jonathan."

"You're right, Shuttleworth, and God knows I'll be glad and grateful to see ivery shuttle flying again and to watch t' old crowd in and out of t' gates, morning and night. I will that!"

"As to Bashpoole lot, I hev an old spite at them. Squire Bashpoole and me hes been tooth and nail at it three times, and I hev licked him ivery time—wi' damages! I'm going to please mysen about him and his family. Dost ta know them big gates at t' entrance of his park, Jonathan?"

"Ay, I hev seen 'em."

"And thou remembers that little mill village round Longbottom's factory that straggles right up to 'em?"

"I think I do."

"I own t' most o' them cottages, and I own that strip o' sandy, frowsy land running above them, in a line wi' the high wall Bashpoole built to shut his own park in. He said t' factory lads and lasses got oover t' pailings and walked