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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
produced。 Though not of an inflammable temperament； he himself was stirred；
and it was she who； unaccountably； had stirred him： suggested； in these
processes he saw every day； and in which he was indeed interested； something
deeper； more significant and human than he had guessed； and which he was unable
to define。。。。
Janet herself did not know why this intimate view of the mills； of the people
who worked in them had so greatly moved her。 All day she thought of them。 And
the distant throb of the machinery she felt when her typewriter was silent
meant something to her nowshe could not say what。 When she found herself
listening for it； her heart beat faster。 She had lived and worked beside it；
and it had not existed for her； it had had no meaning； the mills might have
been empty。 She had； indeed； many； many times seen these men and women； boys
and girls trooping away from work； she had strolled through the quarters in
which they lived； speculated on the lands from which they had come； but she had
never really thought of them as human beings； individuals； with problems and
joys and sorrows and hopes and fears like her own。 Some such discovery was
borne in upon her。 And always an essential function of this revelation；
looming larger than ever in her consciousness； was Ditmar。 It was for Ditmar
they toiled； in Ditmar's hands were their very existences； his was the
stupendous responsibility and power。
As the afternoon wore； desire to see these toilers once more took possession of
her。 From the white cupola perched above the huge mass of the Clarendon Mill
across the water sounded the single stroke of a bell； and suddenly the air was
pulsing with sounds flung back and forth by the walls lining the river。
Seizing her hat and coat； she ran down the stairs and through the vestibule and
along the track by the canal to the great gates； which her father was in the
act of unbarring。 She took a stand beside him； by the gatehouse。 Edward
showed a mild surprise。
〃There ain't anything troubling youis there； Janet？〃 he asked。
She shook her head。
〃I wanted to see the hands come out；〃 she said。
Sometimes； as at present； he found Janet's whims unaccountable。
〃Well； I should have presumed you'd know what they look like by this time。
You'd better stay right close to me； they're a rough lot； with no respect or
consideration for decent folksthese foreigners。 I never could see why the
government lets 'em all come over here。〃 He put on the word 〃foreigners〃 an
emphasis of contempt and indignation； pathetic because of its peculiar note of
futility。 Janet paid no attention to him。 Her ears were strained to catch the
rumble of feet descending the tower stairs； her eyes to see the vanguard as it
came from the doorwaythe first tricklings of a flood that instantly filled
the yard and swept onward and outward； irresistibly； through the narrow gorge
of the gates。 Impossible to realize this as the force which； when distributed
over the great spaces of the mills； performed an orderly and useful task！ for
it was now a turbid and lawless torrent unconscious of its swollen powers；
menacing； breathlessly exciting to behold。 It seemed to Janet indeed a torrent
as she clung to the side of the gatehouse as one might cling to the steep bank
of a mountain brook after a cloud…burst。 And suddenly she had plunged into it。
The desire was absurd； perhaps； but not to be denied；the desire to mix with
it； feel it； be submerged and swept away by it； losing all sense of identity。
She heard her father call after her； faintlythe thought crossed her mind that
his appeals were always faint；and then she was being carried along the canal；
eastward； the pressure relaxing somewhat when the draining of the side streets
began。
She remembered； oddly； the Stanley Street bridge where the many streams met and
mingled； streams from the Arundel； the Patuxent； the Arlington and the
Clarendon； and； eager to prolong and intensify her sensations； hurried thither；
reaching it at last and thrusting her way outward until she had gained th