"You are troubled, my father," said Sybil, as Gerard continued
to pace the chamber.
"Only a little restless. I am thinking what a mistake it was
to have moved in '39."
Sybil sighed.
"Ah! you were right, Sybil," continued Gerard; "affairs were
not ripe. We should have waited three years."
"Three years!" exclaimed Sybil, starting; "are affairs riper
now?"
"The whole of Lancashire is in revolt," said Gerard. "There
is not a sufficient force to keep them in check. If the
miners and colliers rise, and I have cause to believe that it
is more than probable they will move before many days are
past,--the game is up."
"You terrify me," said Sybil.
"On the Contrary," said Gerard, smiling, "the news is good
enough; I'll not say too good to be true, for I had it from
one of the old delegates who is over here to see what can be
done in our north countree."
"Yes," said Sybil inquiringly, and leading on her father.
"He came to the works; we had some talk. There are to be no
leaders this time, at least no visible ones. The people will
do it themselves. All the children of Labour are to rise on
the same day, and to toil no more, till they have their
rights. No violence, no bloodshed, but toil halts, and then
our oppressors will learn the great economical truth as well
as moral lesson, that when Toil plays Wealth ceases.
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