But the most sordid conspiracy imaginable, led by two or three of the prominent members who thought he did not allow them enough share in the evening meetings, had finally overthrown him, and he had gone back to Manchester a bitterer and a sadder man.
After he left there was an interregnum, during which one or two of the elder 'Brethren' taught Sunday school and led the Sunday services.

But at last, in August, it became known in Clough End that a new minister for the 'Christian Brethren' had come down, and public curiosity in the Dissenting circles was keen about him.
After a few weeks there began to be a buzz in the little town on the subject of Mr.Dyson.The 'Christian Brethren' meeting-room, a long low upper chamber formerly occupied by half a dozen hand-looms, was crowded on Sundays, morning and evening, not only by the Brethren, but by migrants from other denominations, and the Sunday school, which was held in a little rickety garret off the main room, also received a large increase of members.

It was rumoured that Mr.Dyson was specially successful with boys, and that there was an 'awakening' among some of the lowest and roughest of the Clough End lads.
'He ha sich a way wi un,' said a much-stirred mother to Reuben Grieve, meeting him one day in the street, 'he do seem to melt your varra marrow.' Reuben went to hear the new man, was much moved, and came home talking about him with a stammering unction, and many furtive looks at David.

He had tried to remonstrate several times on the lad's desertion of chapel and Sunday school, but to no purpose.

There was something in David's half contemptuous, half obstinate silence on these occasions which for a man like Reuben made argument impossible.