The weeks slipped rapidly by, and a great change had come over Dumford.
The sky was blackened once more with smoke, the furnaces roared, there
was the loud chink of metal heard, and the hiss of steam as the engines
thudded and clanked, while at dinner time the great gates gave forth
their troops of grimy workmen.
Homes looked bright once more, and "my maister" was not seen with
lowering brow leaning against the door-post all day long, but tired and
hearty, ready to play with the bairns, or busy himself in his bit of
garden.
The trade, too, had brightened up, and one and all thanked goodness that
their troubles were over, and prayed that they might be long in coming
again.
Something of a search had been made for Sim Slee, and the police
authorities had been pretty active; but Sim and the "deppitation"
managed to keep out of sight, and Richard Glaire was in no wise anxious
to have the matter too closely investigated.
He kept to his story that he found the train laid in the foundry, and
Banks the foreman destroyed it, and the place was saved. This he opened
at once, and the men gladly resumed work, the vicar's influence telling
upon them, and one and all being ready to ignore the past, and try to
condone it by regular attendance at the time-keeper's wicket.
Banks recovered rapidly, and, on learning the truth, sent for Richard,
who, however, refused to go to the house to see him, while on his part
the foreman declined to resume his position at the foundry.
"No, sir," he said to the vicar; "I weer in the wrong, and I shouldn't
feel it weer raight to go back theer again. I'm sorry I misjudged him
as I did, and I weer too hard upon him; but he hasn't used me well,
neither has Mrs Glaire. But theer, let bygones be bygones. I shan't
starve, and I'm only too happy to hev my poor lass back again, safe and
sound--safe and sound, while the missus is in high feather to find that
Daisy and her fav'rite, Tom Podmore, hev come together efter all."
That same day, as it happened, Mrs Glaire called at the cottage, with
Eve Pelly, and while the former talked with her old foreman,
Eve went into the little garden with Daisy.
"I've called to ask you to come back, Joe Banks, at my son's wish," said
Mrs Glaire. "He desires that we bury the past, and that you resume
your post, for the place is not the same without you."
"Nay, Mrs Glaire, nay," said Banks, shaking his head; "that can never
be again. I should hev had to give it up some day, so let it be now.
And, as you say, ma'am, let bygones be bygones. We were both in the
wrong."
"Both, Joe," said Mrs Glaire, sadly; "but you will forgive me. I did
what I did for the best."
"Ay, I believe thee, but it weer very hard to bear. I deserved it,
though, for I might hev knowed that he niver meant to wed my poor lass.
Bud theer that's all past and gone--past and gone. Hey, ma'am, look at
them two i' the garden. They seem good friends enew now. And so she's
to be married to Master Dick to-morrow?"
"Yes, Joe," said Mrs Glaire, hastily, "it will be for the best. My son
is all that I could wish for now;" and they sat looking out at the two
young girls as they stood talking.
Their conversation had been on indifferent things for some time, but
Daisy felt a guilty knowledge of something she ought to tell, for Eve
was so sweet and gentle with her; not one word or look of reproach had
been said, but there had so far been no word of the future.
At length Daisy spoke out.
"Do you quite forgive me, Miss Eve?" she said. "I could not help it
then, though I fought against it, and was wretched all the time."
"Yes, Daisy, yes," cried Eve, eagerly; and she took the other's hand;
"but tell me truly--do you--do you--oh, I cannot say it."
"Do I care for Mr Richard Glaire?" said Daisy, with a strange smile.
"Do I feel hurt because you will be married to him to-morrow? Not a
bit. Don't think that, dear Miss Eve, for I love poor Tom with all my
heart, and only wish I could make him a better wife."
"And you will be married soon, too?" exclaimed Eve.
"Maybe in a month or two," said Daisy, looking sadly at her visitor; "we
do not want to hurry it on. I wish you every happiness, Miss Eve."
"And I you, Daisy," said Eve, looking at her with a wondering wistful
look, and asking herself how it was that Richard should have conceived
so mad a passion for this girl, while for her his attentions had been of
the coldest type.
"Mr Selwood is going to marry you, then?" said Daisy, quietly, for want
of something to carry on the conversation. "But what ails you, Miss
Eve, are you ill?"
"No, no, nothing," said Eve, hastily. "It is hot to-day, that's all."
And then the two girls stood silent for a while, Eve thinking that the
vicar came so seldom now, and then his visits were so quiet and formal;
while Daisy kept asking herself one question, and that was--
"Shall I tell her?"