"But," said Margaret, "a soldier dies in the cause of the Nation--in the cause of others."
He laughed grimly. "My lass," said he, "yo're but a young wench, but don't yo think I can keep three people--that's Bessy, and Mary, and me--on sixteen shillings a week? Dun yo think it's for mysel' I'm striking work at this time? It is just as much in the cause of others as yon soldier--only m'appen, the cause he dies for is just that of somebody he never clapt eyes on, nor heerd on all his born days, while I take up John Boucher's cause, as lives next door but one, wi' a sickly wife, and eight childer, none on 'em factory age; and I don't take up his cause only, though he's a poor good-for-nought, as can only manage two looms at a time, but I take up th' cause o' justice. Why are we to have less wage now, I ask, than two year ago?"
"Don't ask me," said Margaret; "I am very ignorant. Ask some of your masters. Surely they will give you a reason for it. It is not merely an arbitrary decision of theirs, come to without reason."

'But,' said Margaret, 'a soldier dies for his country - for others.'
He laughed grimly. 'My lass,' said he, 'do yo' think I can keep three people - Bessy, and Mary, and me - on sixteen shilling a week? It's not for mysel' I'm striking. Yon soldier might die for somebody he never clapt eyes on, while I take up John Boucher's cause, as lives next door but one, wi' a sickly wife, and eight childer, even though he's a poor good-for-nought, as can only manage two looms at a time - but I take up th' cause o' justice. Why are we to have less wage now, I ask, than two year ago?'
'Don't ask me,' said Margaret. 'Ask some of your masters. Surely they will give you a reason.'
