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was known that he spent Sundays and holidays in delightful places； to return
reddened and tanned； and though he never spoke about these excursions； and put
on no airs of superiority； there was that in his manner and even in the cut of
his well…worn suits proclaiming him as belonging to a sphere not theirs； to a
category of fortunate beings whose stumbles are not fatal； who are sustained
from above。 Even Ditmar was not of these。
〃I've just been showing a lot of highbrows through the mill；〃 he told Janet。
〃They asked questions enough to swamp a professor of economics。〃
And Janet was suddenly impelled to ask：
〃Will you take me through sometime； Mr。 Caldwell？〃
〃You've never been through？〃 he exclaimed。 〃Why； we'll go now； if you can
spare the time。〃
Her face had become scarlet。
〃Don't tell Mr。 Ditmar；〃 she begged。 〃You seehe wanted to take me himself。〃
〃Not a word；〃 Caldwell promised as they left the office together and went
downstairs to the strong iron doors that led to the Cotton Department。 The
showing through of occasional visitors had grown rather tiresome； but now his
curiosity and interest were aroused； he was conscious of a keen stimulation
when he glanced at Janet's face。 Its illumination perplexed him。 The effect
was that of a picture obscurely hung and hitherto scarcely noticed on which the
light had suddenly been turned。 It glowed with a strange and disturbing
radiance。。。。
As for Janet； she was as one brought suddenly to the realization of a miracle
in whose presence she had lived for many years and never before suspected； the
miracle of machinery； of the triumph of man over nature。 In the brief space of
an hour she beheld the dirty bales flung off the freight cars on the sidings
transformed into delicate fabrics wound from the looms； cotton that only last
summer； perhaps； while she sat typewriting at her window； had been growing in
the fields of the South。 She had seen it torn by the balebreakers； blown into
the openers； loosened； cleansed； and dried； taken up by the lappers； pressed
into batting； and passed on to the carding machines； to emerge like a wisp of
white smoke in a sliver and coil automatically in a can。 Once more it was
flattened into a lap； given to a comber that felt out its fibres； removing with
superhuman precision those for the finer fabric too short； thrusting it forth
again in another filmy sliver ready for the drawing frames。 Six of these
gossamer ropes were taken up； and again six。 Then came the Blubbers and the
roving frames； twisting and winding； the while maintaining the most delicate of
tensions lest the rope break； running the strands together into a thread
constantly growing stronger and finer； until it was ready for spinning。
Caldwell stood close to her； shouting his explanations in her ear； while she
strained to follow them。 But she was bewildered and entranced by the
marvellous swiftness； accuracy and ease with which each of the complex
machines； fed by human hands； performed its function。 These human hands were
swift； too； as when they thrust the bobbins of roving on the ringspinning
frames to be twisted into yarn。 She saw a woman； in the space of an instant；
mend a broken thread。 Women and boys were here； doffer boys to lift off the
full bobbins of yarn with one hand and set on the empty bobbins with the other：
while skilled workmen； alert for the first sign of trouble； followed up and
down in its travels the long frame of the mule…spinner。 After the spinning；
the heavy spools of yarn were carried to a beam…warper； standing alone like a
huge spider's web； where hundreds of threads were stretched symmetrically and
wound evenly； side by side； on a large cylinder； forming the warp of the fabric
to be woven on the loom。 First； however； this warp must be stiffened or
〃slashed〃 in starch and tallow； dried over heated drums； and finally wound
around one great beam from which the multitude of threads are taken up； one by
one； and slipped through the eyes of the loom harnesses by women who sit all
day under the north windows overlooking the canalthe 〃drawers…in〃 of whom
Ditmar had spoken。 Then the harnesses are put on the loom； the threads
attached to the cylinder on which the cloth is to be wound。 The looms absorbed
and fascinated Janet above all else。 It seemed as if she would never tire of
watching the rhythmic rise and fall of the harnesses；each rapid movement
making a V in the warp； within the angle of which the tiny shuttles darted to
and fro； to and fro； carrying the thread that filled the cloth with a swiftness
so great the eye could scarcely follow it； to be caught on the other side when
the angle closed； and flung back； and back again！ And in the elaborate
patterns not one； but several harnesses were used； each awaiting its turn for
the impulse bidding it rise and fall！。。。 Abruptly； as she gazed； one of the
machines halted； a weaver hurried up； searched the warp for the broken thread；
tied it； and started the loom again。
〃That's intelligent of it；〃 said Caldwell； in her ear。 But she could only nod
in reply。
The noise in the weaving rooms was deafening； the heat oppressive。 She began
to wonder how these men and women； boys and girls bore the strain all day long。
She had never thought much about them before save to compare vaguely their
drudgery with that from which now she had been emancipated； but she began to
feel a new respect； a new concern； a new curiosity and interest as she watched
them passing from place to place with indifference between the whirling belts；
up and down the narrow aisles； flanked on either side by that bewildering；
clattering machinery whose polished surfaces continually caught and flung back
the light of the electric bulbs on the ceiling。 How was it possible to live
for hours at a time in this bedlam without losing presence of mind and
thrusting hand or body in the wrong place； or becoming deaf？ She had never
before realized what mill work meant； though she had read of the accidents。
But these peopleeven the childrenseemed oblivious to the din and the
danger； intent on their tasks； unconscious of the presence of a visitor； save
occasionally when she caught a swift glance from a woman or girl a glance；
perhaps； of envy or even of hostility。 The dark； foreign faces glowed； and
instantly grew dull again； and then she was aware of lurking terrors； despite
her exaltation； her sense now of belonging to another world； a world somehow
associated with Ditmar。 Was it not he who had lifted her farther above all
this？ Was it not by grace of her association with him she was there； a
spectator of the toil beneath？ Yet the terror persisted。 She； presently；
would step out of the noise； the oppressive moist heat of the drawing and
spinning rooms； the constant； remorseless menace of whirling wheels and cogs
and belts。 But they？。。。 She drew closer to Caldwell's side。
〃I never knew〃 she said。 〃It must be hard to work here。〃
He smiled at her； reassuringly。
〃Oh； they don't mind it；〃 he replied。 〃It's like a health resort compared to
the conditions most of them live in at home。 Why； there's plenty of
ventilation here； and you've got to have a certain amount of heat and moisture；
because when cotton is cold and dry it can't be drawn or spin； and when it's
hot and dry the electricity is troublesome。 If you think this moisture is bad
you ought to see a mill with the old vapour…pot system with the steam shooting
out into the room。 Look here！〃 He led Janet to the apparatus in which the
pure air is forced through wet cloths； removing the dust； explaining how the
ventilation and humidity were regulated automatically； how the temperature of
the room was controlled by a thermostat。
〃There isn't an agent in the country who's more concerned about the welfare of
his operatives than Mr。 Ditmar。 He's made a study of it； he's spent thousands
of dollars； and as soon as these machines became practical he put 'em in。 The
other day when I was going through the room one of these shuttles flew off； as
they sometimes do when the looms are running at high speed。 A woman was pretty
badly hurt。 Ditmar came right down。〃
〃He really cares about them；〃 said Janet。 She liked Caldwell's praise of
Ditmar； yet she spoke a little doubtfully。
〃Of course he cares。 But it's common sense to make 'em as comfortable and
happy as possibleisn't it？ He won't stand for being held up； and he'd be
stiff enough if it came to a strike。 I don't blame him for that。 Do you？〃
Janet was wondering how ruthless Ditmar could be if his will were crossed。。。。
They had left the room with its noise and heat behind them and were descending
the worn； oaken treads of the spiral stairway of a neighbouring tower。 Janet
shivered a little； and her face seemed almost feverish as she turned to
Caldwell and thanked him。
〃Oh； it was a pleasure； Miss Bumpus；〃 he declared。 〃And sometime； when you
want to see the Print Works or the Worsted Department； let me knowI'm your
man。 AndI won't mention it。〃
She did not answer。 As they made their way back to the office he glanced at
her covertly； astonished at the emotional effect in her their tour had
produc