Tom and Ben discussed the situation in all its bearings.
"Aw'll tell yo' what it is," said Ben, "it's nowt but spite. Aw've known this stream, man and boy, for ovver fifty year, an' th' Co-op Mill as mony. An' a hangel fro' heaven couldn't mak' me believe as we'n done owt 'at Jabez Tinker's a reight to complain on. It's nowt but spite, Tom, it's th' owd tale ovver agen o' th' wolf an' th' lamb. He meeans to eit us up flesh an' bone, that's th' long an' th' short on it. An' what for? That lays ovver me entirely. Tha's nivver crossed him i' owt, has ta, Tom?"
And then, for the first time Tom told his friend of the offer Tinker had made to him at the close of his apprenticeship.
"An' what didn't ta tak' th' shop for, Tom? It 'ud ha' been a seet easier for thee nor startin' at th' Co-op?"
"Well, you see Ben, we'd made all our arrangements and--"
"Aye, aye, aw see, lad, tha wer' feeart aw sud think tha'd thrown me ovver. Eh, lad, me and yar Hannah an' Lucy too, for that matter, 'ud ha' gone to th' big house afore yo' sud ha' gone agen yo'r best interests for us."
"Oh, nonsense, Ben. I preferred the Co-op scheme. I never enjoyed my life so much as I have done since we went into it, and I shall never cast a regretful thought over either the labour or the wee bit money it has cost me. What worries me, Ben, so I can't sleep o'nights, is the thought of the men who have joined us and put their life-savings into the concern. I shall never hold up my head again if they are to lose their money through their confidence in me."
"And i' me, Tom, i' me, too. Yo' see, lad, yo' wer' i' a manner o' speikin' a stranger; but they'd known me all my life. But aw'm nooan feeart they'll blame oather on us, after th' first shock's ovver. But if they dunnot ma' Jabez Tinker sweeat for this job, they're nooan th' lad's aw tak' 'em for. If yo' know onybody 'at's interested i' insurance companies just yo' tell 'em to fight shy o' Wilberlee Mill," answered Ben savagely.
"That's nonsense, Ben, and yo know it. Now what's to be done?"
"Let's go see Mister Re'fearn," suggested Ben.
"I'm afraid he may think we want to ask him to help us out. We must take no money, Ben, from anybody. We'll keep our good names if we lose every stick we have."