"You are out of work, I suppose." "Yes," said I; and not disposed to show the satisfaction I felt on this point, I, yielding to the whim of the moment, took up the subject as though I considered myself aggrieved rather than benefited by what had been done.

"Yes--thanks to you, I am.

Crimsworth turned me off at a minute's notice, owing to some interference of yours at a public meeting, I understand." "Ah! what! he mentioned that?
He observed me signalling the lads, did he?
What had he to say about his friend Hunsden--anything sweet ?" "He called you a treacherous villain." "Oh, he hardly knows me yet! I'm one of those shy people who don't come out all at once, and he is only just beginning to make my acquaintance, but he'll find I've some good qualities--excellent ones! The Hunsdens were always unrivalled at tracking a rascal; a downright, dishonourable villain is their natural prey--they could not keep off him wherever they met him; you used the word pragmatical just now--that word is the property of our family; it has been applied to us from generation to generation; we have fine noses for abuses; we scent a scoundrel a mile off; we are reformers born, radical reformers; and it was impossible for me to live in the same town with Crimsworth, to come into weekly contact with him, to witness some of his conduct to you (for whom personally I care nothing; I only consider the brutal injustice with which he violated your natural claim to equality)--I say it was impossible for me to be thus situated and not feel the angel or the demon of my race at work within me.

I followed my instinct, opposed a tyrant, and broke a chain." Now this speech interested me much, both because it brought out Hunsden's character, and because it explained his motives; it interested me so much that I forgot to reply to it, and sat silent, pondering over a throng of ideas it had suggested.
"Are you grateful to me ?" he asked, presently.
In fact I was grateful, or almost so, and I believe I half liked him at the moment, notwithstanding his proviso that what he had done was not out of regard for me.

But human nature is perverse.