"What is Diggs doing?" said Master Nixon in a solemn tone.
"A-dropping wages and a-raising tommy like fun," said Master
Waghorn.
"There is a great stir in Hell-house yard," said a miner who
entered the tap room at this moment, much excited. "They say
that all the workshops will be shut to-morrow; not an order
for a month past. They have got a top-sawyer from London
there who addresses them every evening, and says that we have
a right to four shillings a day wages, eight hours' work and
two pots of ale."
"A fair day's wage for a fair day's work," said Master Nixon.
"I would not stickle about hours, but the money and the drink
are very just."
"If Hell-house yard is astir," said Waghorn, "there will be a
good deal to be seen yet."
"It's grave," said Master Nixon. "What think you of a
deputation there? It might come to good."
"I should like to hear the top-sawyer from London," said
Juggins. "We had a Chartist here the other day, but he did
not understand our case at all."
"I heard him," said Master Nixon, "but what's his Five Points
to us? Why he ayn't got tommy among them."
"Nor long stints," said Waghorn.
"Nor butties," said Juggins.
"He's a pretty fellow to come and talk to us," said a collier.
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