`Niver you mind,' stormed Morel. `I know my business.'

`That's more than doubtful,' said Mrs Morel, `supposing some loud-mouthed creature had been getting you to thrash your own children.'

`I know,' repeated Morel.

And he said no more, but sat and nursed his bad temper. Suddenly William ran in, saying:

`Can I have my tea, mother?'

`Tha can ha'e more than that!' shouted Morel.

`Hold your noise, man,' said Mrs Morel; `and don't look so ridiculous.'

`He'll look ridiculous before I've done wi' him!' shouted Morel, rising from his chair and glaring at his son.

William, who was a tall lad for his years, but very sensitive, had gone pale, and was looking in a sort of horror at his father.

`Go out!' Mrs Morel commanded her son.

William had not the wit to move. Suddenly Morel clenched his fist, and crouched.

`I'll gi'e him "go out"!' he shouted like an insane thing.

`What!' cried Mrs Morel, panting with rage. `You shall not touch him for her telling, you shall not!'

`Shonna I?' shouted Morel. `Shonna I?'

And, glaring at the boy, he ran forward. Mrs Morel sprang in between them, with her fist lifted.

`Don't you dare!' she cried.

`What!' he shouted, baffled for the moment. `What!'

She spun round to her son.

`Go out of the house!' she commanded him in fury.

The boy, as if hypnotized by her, turned suddenly and was gone. Morel rushed to the door, but was too late. He returned, pale under his pit-dirt with fury. But now his wife was fully roused.

`Only dare!' she said in a loud, ringing voice. `Only dare, milord, to lay a finger on that child! You'll regret it for ever.'

He was afraid of her. In a towering rage, he sat down.

When the children were old enough to be left, Mrs Morel joined the Women's Guild. It was a little club of women attached to the Co-operative Wholesale Society, which met on Monday night in the long room over the grocery shop of the Bestwood `Co-op'. The women were supposed to discuss the benefits to be derived from co-operation, and other social questions. Sometimes Mrs Morel read a paper. It seemed queer to the children to see their mother, who was always busy about the house, sitting writing in her rapid fashion, thinking, referring to books, and writing again. They felt for her on such occasions the deepest respect.