IamspeakingofthetimeswhenIbeheldherastheblamelesscompanionoftheyears,themotherofmychildren,thewomanIwasusedtoandshould——byallcanonsIhadknown——haveloved
Andtherewerethechildren.DaysandweekspassedwhenIscarcelysawthem,andthensomelittleincidentwouldhappentogivemeanunexpectedwrenchandplungemeintounhappiness.OneeveningIcamehomefromalongtalkwithNancythathadleftusbothwroughtup,andIhadenteredthelibrarybeforeIheardvoices.Maudewasseatedunderthelampattheendofthebigroomreadingfrom\"DonQuixote\";MatthewandBiddywereatherfeet,andMoreton,lessattentive,atalittledistancewastakingapartamechanicaltoy.Iwouldhavetiptoedout,butBiddycaughtsightofme.
\"It\'sfather!\"shecried,gettingupandflyingtome.
\"Oh,father,docomeandlisten!Thestory\'ssoexciting,isn\'tit,Matthew?\"
Ilookeddownintotheboy\'seyesshiningwithanexpressionthatsuddenlypiercedmyheartwithapoignantmemoryofmyself.MatthewwasfarawayamongthemountainsandcastlesofSpain.
\"Matthew,\"demandedhissister,\"whydidhewanttogofightingwithallthosepeople?\"
\"Becausehewasdotty,\"suppliedMoreton,whohadaninterestinghabitofpickingupslang.
\"Itwasn\'tatall,\"criedMatthew,indignantly,interruptingMaude\'srebukeofhisbrother.
\"Whatwasit,then?\"Moretondemanded.
\"Youwouldn\'tunderstandifItoldyou,\"Matthewwasretorting,whenMaudeputherhandonhislips.
\"Ithinkthat\'senoughforto-night,\"shesaid,assheclosedthebook.
\"Therearelessonstodo——andfatherwantstoreadhisnewspaperinquiet.\"
ThisbroughtaprotestfromBiddy.
\"Justalittlemore,mother!Can\'twegointotheschoolroom?Weshan\'tdisturbfatherthere.\"
\"I\'llreadtothem——afewminutes,\"Isaid.
AsItookthevolumefromherandsatdownMaudeshotatmeaswiftlookofsurprise.EvenMatthewglancedatmecuriously;andinhisglanceI
had,asitwere,asuddenrevelationoftheboy\'sperplexityconcerningme.Hewastwelve,rathertallforhisage,andthedelicatemodellingofhisfaceresembledmyfather\'s.HehadbeguntothinkWhatdidhethinkofme?
Biddyclappedherhands,andbegantodanceacrossthecarpet.
\"Father\'sgoingtoreadtous,father\'sgoingtoreadtous,\"shecried,finallyclamberinguponmykneeandsnugglingagainstme.
\"Whereistheplace?\"Iasked.
ButMaudehadlefttheroom.Shehadgoneswiftlyandsilently.
\"I\'llfindit,\"saidMoreton.
Ibegantoread,butIscarcelyknewwhatIwasreading,myfingerstighteningoverBiddy\'slittleknee
PresentlyMissAllsop,thegoverness,camein.ShehadbeensentbyMaude.TherewaswistfulnessinBiddy\'svoiceasIkissedhergoodnight.
\"Father,ifyouwouldonlyreadoftener!\"shesaid,\"Ilikeitwhenyouread——betterthananyoneelse.\"
MaudeandIwerealonethatnight.Aswesatinthelibraryafteroursomewhatformal,perfunctorydinner,IventuredtoaskherwhyshehadgoneawaywhenIhadofferedtoread.
\"Icouldn\'tbearit,Hugh,\"sheanswered.
\"Why?\"Iasked,intendingtojustifymyself.
Shegotupabruptly,andleftme.Ididnotfollowher.InmyheartI
understoodwhy
SomeyearshadpassedsinceRalph\'sprophecyhadcometrue,andPerryandtheremainingBlackwoodshadbeen\"relieved\"oftheBoyneStreetline.
Theprocessneednotbegoneintoindetail,beingthetime-honouredoneemployedintheRibblevaleaffairof\"runningdown\"theline,orperhapsitwouldbebettertosay\"showingitup.\"Ithadnotjustifieditssurvivalinourefficientdays,ithadheldout——thankstoPerry——withabsurdandanachronouspersistenceagainsttheinevitableconsolidation.
Mr.Tallant\'snewspaperhadpublishedmanycomplaintsoftheageandscarcityofthecars,etc.;andalarmedholdersofsecurities,inwhosevaultstheyhadlainsincetimeimmemorial,begantosellIsawlittleofPerryinthosedays,asIhaveexplained,butonedayImethimintheHambletonBuilding,andhewaswhite.
\"Yourfriendsaredoingthus,Hugh,\"hesaid.
\"Doingwhat?\"
\"Underminingthereputationofacompanyassoundasanyinthiscity,acompanythat\'snotovercapitalized,either.Andwe\'regivingbetterservicerightnowthananyofyourconsolidatedlines.\"
Hewasinnoframeofmindtoarguewith;theconversationwasdistinctlyunpleasant.Idon\'trememberwhatIsaidsethingtotheeffectthathewasexcited,thathislanguagewasextravagant.ButafterhehadwalkedoffandleftmeItoldDickinsonthatheoughttobegivenachance,andoneofouryoungerfinanciers,Murphree,wenttoPerryandpointedoutthathehadnothingtogainbyobstruction;ifhewereonlyreasonable,hemightcomeintothenewcorporationonthesametermswiththeothers.
AllthatMurphreegotforhispainswastobeorderedoutoftheofficebyPerry,whodeclaredthathewasbeingbribedtodeserttheotherstockholders.
\"Heutterlyfailedtoseethepointofview,\"MurphreereportedinsomeastonishmenttoDickinson.
\"Whatelsedidhesay?\"Mr.Dickinsonasked.
Murphreehesitated.
\"Well——what?\"thebankerinsisted.
\"Hewasn\'tquitehimself,\"saidMurphree,whowasacomparativenewcomerinthecityandhadarespectfortheBlackwoodname.\"Hesaidthatthatwasthecustomofthieves:whentheywerediscovered,theyofferedtodivide.Hesworethathewouldgetjusticeinthecourts.\"
Mr.Dickinsonsmiled
ThusPerry,throughhisobstinacyandinabilitytoadapthimselftonewconditions,hadgraduallylostbothcasteandmoney.HeresignedfromtheBoyneClub.Iwasrathersorryforhim.Tomnaturallytookthemattertoheart,butheneverspokeofit;IfoundthatIwasseeinglessofhim,thoughwecontinuedtodinethereatintervals,andhestillcametomyhousetoseethechildren.MaudecontinuedtoseeLucia.Forme,thesituationwouldhavebeenmoreawkwardhadIbeenlessoccupied,hadmyrelationshipwithMaudebeenacloserone.NeitherdidshementionPerryinthosedays.Theincomethatremainedtohimbeingsufficientforhimandhisfamilytoliveoncomfortably,hebegantodevotemostofhistimetovarioussocietiesofasemipublicnatureuntil——inthespringofwhichIwritehisactivitiessuddenlybecameconcentratedintheorganizationofa\"CitizensUnion,\"whoseavowedobjectwastomakeacampaignagainst\"graft\"andpoliticalcorruptionthefollowingautumn.Thisannouncementandthecallforamass-meetinginKingdonHallwasreceivedbythenewspaperswithagood-naturedridicule,andininfluentialquartersitwasgenerallyhintedthatthiswasMr.Blackwood\'smethodof\"gettingsquare\"forhavingbeendeprivedoftheBoyneStreetline.ItwasquitecharacteristicofRalphHambletonthatheshouldgo,outofcuriosity,tothegatheringatKingdonHall,anddropintomyofficethenextmorning.
\"Well,Hughie,they\'reafteryou,\"hesaidwithagrin.
\"Afterme?Whynotincludeyourself?\"
Hesatdownandstretchedhislonglegsandhislongarms,andsmiledashegaped.
\"Oh,they\'llnevergetme,\"hesaid.AndIknew,asIgazedathim,thattheyneverwould.
\"Whatsortofthingsdidtheysay?\"Iasked.
\"Haven\'tyoureadthePilotandtheMailandState?\"
\"Ijustglancedoverthem.Didtheycallnames?\"
\"Callnames!Ishouldsaytheydid.Theygotdrunkonit,workedthemselvesuplikedervishes.Theydidn\'tcussyoupersonally,——that\'llcomelater,ofcourse.JuddJasongottheheaviestshot,buttheysaidhecouldn\'texistaminuteifitwasn\'tforthe\'respectable\'crowd——
capitalists,financiers,millionairesandtheirlegaltools.Factis,theyspokeagooddealoftruth,firstandlast,inafoolkindofway.\"
\"Truth!\"Iexclaimedirritatedly.
Ralphlaughed.Hewasevidentlyenjoyinghimself.
\"Isanyofitnewstoyou,Hughie,oldboy?\"
\"It\'sanoutrage.\"
\"Ithinkit\'sfunny,\"saidRalph.\"Wehaven\'thadsuchacircusforyears.Neverhad.OfcourseIshouldn\'tliketoseeyougobehindthebars,——notthat.Butyoufellowscan\'texpecttogoonforeverskimmingoffthecreamwithouthavingsomebodysquealsometime.Yououghttobereasonable.\"
\"You\'veskimmedasmuchcreamasanybodyelse.\"
\"You\'veskimmedthecream,Hughie,——youandDickinsonandSchererandGriersonandtherest,——I\'veonlyfilledmyjug.Well,thesefellowsaregoingtohavearegularroof-raisingcampaign,takethelidoffofeverything,dumpoutthered-lightdistrictsomeofourfriendsaresofondof.\"
\"Dumpitwhere?\"Iaskedcuriously.
\"Oh,\"answeredRalph,\"theydidn\'tsay.Outintothecountry,anywhere.\"
\"Butthat\'sdamnedfoolishness,\"Ideclared.
\"Didn\'tsayitwasn\'t,\"Ralphadmitted.\"Theytalkedalotofthat,too,incidentally.They\'regoingtoclosethesaloonsanddancehallsandmakethiscitysadderthanheaven.Whentheygetthrough,it\'llallbeoverbuttheinquest.\"
\"WhatdidPerrydo?\"Iasked.
\"Well,heopenedthemeeting,——madeanice,precise,gentlemanlyspeech.
GreenhalgeandafewyounghighbrowsandareformedcrooknamedHarroddidmostofthehair-raising.They\'regoingtonominateGreenhalgeformayor;andhetold\'emsomethingaboutthatlittlematteroftheschoolboard,andsaidhewouldtalkmorelateron.Ifoneoftheablestlawyersinthecityhadn\'tbeenhiredbytherespectablecrowdandalotofotherqueerworkdone,thetreasurerandpurchasingagentwouldbedoingtime.Theyseemedtobeinterested,allright.\"
Iturnedoversomepapersonmydesk,justtoshowRalphthathehadn\'tsucceededindisturbingme.
\"Whowasintheaudience?anyoneyoueverheardof?\"Iasked.
\"Surething.YourcousinRobertBreck;andthatson-in-lawofhis——
what\'shisname?Andsomeotherrepresentativesofouroldestfamilies,——
AlecPound.He\'sareformernow,youknow.Theyputhimontheresolutionscommittee.SamOgilvywasthere,he\'dbeclassedasrespectablyconservative.AndoneoftheEwanses.Icouldnameafewothers,ifyoupressedme.ThatbrotherofFowndeswholookslikeanup-
stateminister.Alotofwomen——MillerGorse\'ssister,Mrs.Datchet,whoneverapprovedofMiller.Quiteagenteelgathering,Igiveyoumyword,andallastonishedandmadashellwhenthespeakingwasover.Mrs.
Datchetsaidshehadbeenlivinginadenofiniquityandvice,anddidn\'tknowit.\"
\"Itmusthavebeenamusing,\"Isaid.
\"Itwas,\"saidRalph.\"It\'llbemoreamusinglateron.Oh,yes,therewasanotherfellowwhospokeIforgottomention——thatqueerDickwhowasinyourclass,Krebs,gottheschoolboardevidence,lookedasifhe\'dcomeinbyfreight.Hewasn\'taspopularastherest,buthe\'sgotmoresensethanallofthemputtogether.\"
\"Whywasn\'thepopular?\"
\"Well,hedidn\'tcrackuptheAmericanpeople,——saidtheydeservedalltheygot,thatthey\'dhavetolearntothinkstraightandbestraightbeforetheycouldexpectasquaredeal.Thetruthwas,theysecretlyenviedtheserichmenwhowereexploitingtheircity,andjustaslongastheyenviedthemtheyhadn\'tanyrighttocomplainofthem.Hewasgoingintothiscampaigntotellthetruth,buttotellallsidesofit,andiftheywantedreform,they\'dhavetoreformthemselvesfirst.Iadmiredhisnerve,Imustsay.\"
\"Healwayshadthat,\"Iremarked.\"Howdidtheytakeit?\"
\"Well,theydidn\'tlikeitmuch,butIthinkmostofthemhadarespectforhim.IknowIdid.Hehasawholelotofassurance,anairofknowingwhathe\'stalkingabout,andapparentlyhedoesn\'tgiveacontinentalwhetherhe\'spopularornot.Besides,Greenhalgehadcrackedhimuptotheskiesfortheworkhe\'ddonefortheschoolboard.\"
\"Youtalkasifhe\'dconvertedyou,\"Isaid.
Ralphlaughedasheroseandstretchedhimself.
\"Oh,I\'monlytheintelligentspectator,yououghttoknowthatbythistime,Hughie.ButIthoughtitmightinterestyou,sinceyou\'llhavetogoonthestumpandrefuteitall.That\'llbeanicejob.Solong.\"
Andhedeparted.OfcourseIknewthathehadbeenbaitingme,hisscentfortheweaknessesofhisfriendsbeingabsolutelyfiendish.Iwasangrybecausehehadsucceeded,——becauseheknewhehadsucceeded.Allthemorninguneasinesspossessedme,andIfounditdifficulttoconcentrateontheaffairsIhadinhand.Ifeltpremonitions,whichItriedinvaintosuppress,thatthetideofthephilosophyofpowerandmightwerestartingtoebb:Iscentedvaguecalamitiesahead,calamitiesI
associatedwithKrebs;andwhenIwentouttotheClubforlunchthissenseofuneasiness,insteadofbeingdissipated,wasincreased.
Dickinsonwasthere,andScherer,whohadjustgotbackfromEurope;thetalkfellontheCitizensUnion,whichSchererbelittledwithanairofconsequenceandpompousnessthatstruckmedisagreeably,andwithaneyenewlycriticalIdetectedinhimacertaindisintegration,deterioration.
Havingdismissedthereformers,hebegantotellofhisexperiencesabroad,referringinonewayoranothertothepeopleofconsequencewhohadentertainedhim.
\"Hugh,\"saidLeonardDickinsontomeaswewalkedtothebanktogether,\"Schererwillneverbeanygoodanymore.Toomuchprosperity.Andhe\'sbeguntohavehisnailsmanicured.\"
AfterIhadleftthebankpresidentanuncannyfancystruckmethatinAdolfSchererIhadbeforemeaconcreteexampleoftheeffectofmyphilosophyontheindividual
Nothingseemedtogorightthatspring,andyetnothingwasabsolutelywrong.AttimesIbecameirritated,bewildered,outoftune,andunabletounderstandwhy.Theweatheritselfwasuneasy,tepid,withlongspellsofhotwindanddust.Inolongerseemedtofindrefugeinmywork.Iwasunhappyathome.Afterwalkingformanyyearsinconfidenceandsecurityalongwhatappearedtobeacertainpath,Ihadsuddenlycomeoutintoavaguecountryinwhichitwasbecomingmoreandmoredifficulttorecognizelandmarks.Ididnotliketoconfessthis;andyetIheardwithinmeoccasionalwhispers.CoulditbethatI,HughParet,whohadalwaysbeensopositive,hadmadeamessofmylife?
Thereweremomentswhenthepatternofitappearedtohavefallenapart,resolveditselfintopiecesthatrefusedtofitintoeachother.
OfcoursemyrelationshipwithNancyhadsomethingtodowiththis
Oneeveninglateinthespring,afterdinner,Maudecameintothelibrary.
\"Areyoubusy,Hugh?\"sheasked.
Iputdownmynewspapers.
\"Because,\"shewenton,asshetookachairnearthetablewhereIwaswriting,\"IwantedtotellyouthatIhavedecidedtogotoEurope,andtakethechildren.\"
