That shrewd old lady knew her son well enough to suspect that some untoward circumstance had befallen him, but she knew also that she could do no more than bide her time.
With the workers of the Maitland Mills circumstances favoured the plans of McNish and the Executive of the allied unions.

The new manager was beginning to make his hand felt upon the wheel.

Checks upon wastage in labour time and in machine time were being instituted; everywhere there was a tightening up of loose screws and a knitting up of loose ends, with the inevitable consequent irritation.

This was especially true in the case of Tony Perrotte, to whom discipline was ever an external force and never an inward compulsion.

Inexact in everything he did, irregular in his habits, irresponsible in his undertakings, he met at every turn the pressure of the firm, resolute hand of the new manager.