Sentence:  It would have been possible for them to work “<WSD>level-handed</WSD> ” themselves in the absence of the under-hands, and by that means have saved Mr. Johnson considerable expense, annoyance, and inconvenience, but they would not do so without extra pay, and that not being allowed, they went away in a body. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  With work and earnings shared equally.