He never spoke with any force of argument to his wife, nor indeed to any one else, in justification of his actions.

His reasons for action were in most cases self-evolved and entirely self-regulated.

He had said not a word to any one, not even to his foreman, of his purpose to close the factory until it was quite fixed; he had asked no advice, explained to no one the course of reasoning which led to his doing so.

Rowe was a city of strikes, but there had never been a strike at Lloyd's because he had abandoned the situation in every case before the clouds of rebellion were near enough for the storm to break.

When Briggs and McGuire, the rival manufacturers at his right and left, had resorted to cut prices when business was dull, as a refuge from closing up, Lloyd closed with no attempt at compromise.
"I suppose they need a little recreation," Mrs.Lloyd observed, thinking of the little girl's face peeping out between her mother and grandmother in the sleigh they had just passed.
"Their little recreation is on about the same scale for them as my hiring a special railroad train every day in the week to go to Boston would be for me," returned Lloyd, setting his handsome face ahead at the track.
"It does seem dreadful foolish," said his wife, "when they are out of work, and maybe won't earn any more money to support their families all winter--" Mrs.Lloyd hesitated a minute.