CHAPTER IX: A PAINFUL TIME.
When Ned was left alone he rolled himself up in the blankets, placed a pillow which Polly had brought him under his head, and lay and looked at the fire; but it was not until the flames had died down, and the last red glow had faded into blackness that he fell off to sleep.
His thoughts were bitter in the extreme.

He pictured to himself the change which would take place in his home life with Mulready the manufacturer, the tyrant of the workmen, ruling over it.

For himself he doubted not that he would be able to hold his own.
"He had better not try on his games with me," he muttered savagely.
"Though I am only sixteen he won't find it easy to bully me; but of course Charlie and Lucy can't defend themselves.

However, I will take care of them.

Just let him be unkind to them, and see what comes of it! As to mother, she must take what she gets, at least she deserves to.
Only to think of it! only to think of it! Oh, how bitterly she will come to repent! How could she do it! "And with father only dead a year! But I must stand by her, too.