For his part, Nicholas has little liking for Thornton although he has always respected the fact that he has only ever dealt honestly, if not easily, with the workers. He asked for a job- and now accepts the job- because he has little choice in the matter. He does so without losing his pride though, and Thornton doesn't require this of him. When Nicholas asks John if he thinks the two of them can get along, John essentially says that it's not important that they do: only that they can work together. The two even manage to find some humour in the situation. This guarded truce between the two men- master and strike leader- gives some hope that, at some point, the resentment and anger between the masters and workers may be overcome and they may deal more easily with each other. If they start thinking of each other not as enemies or "The Other" but as men with whom they disagree, but in the end have the same end and purpose: to run a successful and profitable mill, they may be able to actually achieve this aim. In this case, both Thornton and Higgins have given a little and come to an understanding, if not liking, of each other and that's an important first step.
Unfortunately, as the relationship between Thornton and Higgins improves, that between Margaret and John seems to be in a downward spiral, as I'll discuss in my next post on North & South.