Bellamy how the thing works."
"I held my tongue, Mrs. Bellamy, but I had my thoughts all the same,
and the next time I go there, IF I go at all, I shall ask for Tom."
Mr. Furze was aware of Tom's growing importance, and Mrs. Furze was
aware of it too. The worst of it was that Mr. Furze, at any rate,
knew that he could not do without him. It is very galling to the
master to feel that his power is slipping from him into the hands of
a subordinate, and he is apt to assert himself by spasmodic attempts
at interference which generally make matters worse and rivet his
chains more tightly. There was a small factory in Eastthorpe in
which a couple of grindstones were used which were turned by water-
power at considerable speed. One of them had broken at a flaw. It
had flown to pieces while revolving, and had nearly caused a serious
accident. The owner called at Mr. Furze's to buy another. There
were two in stock, one of which he would have taken; but Tom, his
master being at the Terrace, strongly recommended his customer not
to have that quality, as it was from the same quarry as the one
which was faulty, but that another should be ordered. To this he
assented. When Mr. Furze returned Tom told him what had happened.
He was in an unusually irritable, despotic mood. Mrs. Furze had
forced him to yield upon a point which he had foolishly made up his
mind not to concede, and consequently he was all the more disposed
to avenge his individuality elsewhere.
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