into a heap of cotton refuse at his feet might better ha been came from another hand and a deep that s so of ran through the knot of workers felt a touch on his arm and met mrs s eyes what has hap do they mean she asked in a startled voice there was an here two days ago a man got caught in the card l him and his right hand was badly shed mr inter l his note of how serious is the how did it he the fruit op the tree through the man s own � oak the manager the interposed before could answer a deep of ran through the crowd but without noticing the s r iy said to mr he s at the hope hospital he will lose hand and probably the whole arm he had not meant to add this last phrase however strongly his were aroused it was against his rule at such a time to say anything which might the quick passions of the workers he had meant to light of the accident and dismiss the with a sharp word of re but mrs s face was close to his he saw the pity in her eyes and feared if be checked its expression that he might never again have the chance of calling it forth his right arm how terrible but then he never be able to work again she exclaimed in all the horror of a first with the inexorable fate of the poor her eyes turned from and rested on the faces pressing about her there were many women s faces among them � the faces of middle age and of sallow for the first time mrs seemed to feel the bond of blood between herself and these dim creatures of the as watched her the miracle was the fruit of the tree her gave way to a quick rush of colour her eyes like a frightened child s and two tears rose and rolled slowly down her face oh why wasn t i told is he married has he children what does it matter whose fault it was she cried her questions pouring out on a wave of anger and compassion it t his fault the cards are too dose � happen again he s got three at home broke from the and suddenly a voice exclaimed here s his wife now and the crowd divided to make way for mrs who passing through the farther end of the room had been and dragged toward the group she hung back shrinking from the machine which she beheld for tlie first time since her husband s accident then she saw guessed the identity of the lady at his side and flushed up to her haggard forehead mrs had been in her earlier youth and sufficient lingered in her face to show how much more had been sacrificed to sickness and toil oh ma am ma am it t jim s fault � there ain t a man living the cards is too crowded she sobbed out some of the other women began to cry a wave of the fruit of the tree sympathy ran through the circle and mrs moved forward with an answering exclamation you poor creature you poor creature she opened her arm s to mrs and the s sobs were buried on her employer s breast i will go to the hospital � i will come and see you � i will see that everything is done but why are you here how is it that you have had to leave your she freed herself to turn a glance on you don t mean to tell me that at such a tune you keep the poor woman at mrs has not been here the manager took her back today at her own request that she might earn something while her husband was in hospital mrs s eyes shone indignantly earn something but surely she met a look from mr who had stepped between mrs and herself my dear child no one doubts � none of these good people doubt � that you will look into the case and do all you can to it but let me suggest that this is hardly the she turned from him with an glance at i think the latter said as eyes met that the fruit of the tree you had better let me dismiss the hands they have only an hour at midday she signed her assent and he turned to the and said quietly you have heard mrs s promise now take yourselves off and give her a dear way to the stairs they dropped back and mr drew s arm through his but as he began to move away she turned and laid her hand on mrs s shoulder you must not stay here � you must go back to the children i ill make it right with mr she said in a whisper then through her tears she smiled a farewell at the lingering knot of and followed her companions to the door in silence they descended the many stairs and crossed the shabby grass plot between the mills and the manager s office it was not till they reached the carriage that mrs spoke but maria is waiting for us � we must call for her she said rousing herself and as opened the carriage door she added you will show us the way you will drive with us during the e remained silent as if in the distress of the scene she had just witnessed and found himself v mr s questions while his o i n mind the fruit op the tree had no room for anything but the sense of her tremulous lips and of her eyes enlarged by tears he had been too much engrossed in the momentous issues of her visit to the mills to remember that she 