Buttheywereunwillingtotakeonthehumdrumofmakingaliving，andwereinmostcasesincapableofinitiatingacongenialmethodofemployingtheirpowers，theirnew-found，splendid，gloriouspowers，bymeansofwhichtheyhadsavedanempireandaworld。
Theyhadbecomecommonmenagain，theyinwhosesoulsbutafewweeksagohadflamedthegloryandsplendourofadivineheroism！
Smallwonderthatsomeofthesemen，tinglingwiththeconsciousnessofpowersofwhichthesebusy，engagedpeopleofthestreetsandshopsknewnothing，turnedwithdisdainfromthepetty，paltry，manyofthemnon-manlytasksthatmenpursuedsolelythattheymightlive。Live！Fortheselastterrible，greatandgloriousfiftymonthstheyhadschooledthemselvestothenotionthatthemainbusinessoflifewasnottolive。Therehadbeenforthemathingtodoinfinitelymoreworthwhilethantolive。Indeed，hadtheybeendeterminedatallcoststolive，thentheyhadbecometothemselves，totheircomrades，andindeedtoalltheworld，themostdespicableofalllivingthings，deservingandwinningtheinfinitecontemptofalltruemen。
Whilethe“gratuitymoney“lastedlifewentmerrilyenough，butwhenthelastchequehadbeencashed，andthegrimrealitythatrationshadceasedandQ。M。Storeswerenotlongeravailablethrustitselfvividlyintothefaceofthedemobilisedveteran，andwhenafterexperiencinginjobhuntingvaryingdegreesofhumiliationthesameveteranmadethestartlingandpainfuldiscoverythatforhiswaresofheroicself-immolation，ofdoggedendurancedoneupinkhaki，therewasnodemandinthebloodlessbutnonethelessstrenuousconflictofliving；andthatotherdiscovery，moredisconcerting，thathewasnotthemanhehadbeeninpre-wardaysandthoughthimselfstilltobe，butquiteanother，thenhewasreadyforoneoftwoalternatives，tosurrendertotheinevitabledictumthatafteralllifewasreallynotworthafight，moreparticularlyifitcouldbesustainedwithoutone，or，toflinghishatintotheBolshevistring，readyfortheoldthing，war——waragainsttheenemiesofcivilisationandhisownenemies，againstthosewhopossessedthingswhichheverymuchdesiredbutwhichforsomeinexplicablecausehewaspreventedfromobtaining。
Theformerclass，toagreaterorlessdegree，JackMaitlandrepresented；thelatter，TonyPerrotte。Fromtheirwarexperiencetheywerenowknittogetherinbondsthatranintolifeissues。
Togethertheyhadfacedwar’sultimatehorror，togethertheyhademergedwithimperishablememoriesofsheerheroicmanhoodmutuallyrevealedinhoursofdesperateneed。
AtJack’srequestTonyhadbeengiventhepositionofaJuniorForemaninoneoftheplaningmilldepartments，withthepromiseofadvancement。
“Youcanhaveanythingyouarefitfor，Tony，inanyofthemills。
IfeelthatIoweyou，thatwebothoweyoumorethanwecanpaybyanypositionwecanoffer，“wasGrantMaitland’sword。
“Mr。Maitland，neitheryounorJackowesmeanything。Jackhaspaid，andmorethanonce，allheowedme。But，“witharuefulsmile，“don’texpecttoomuchfrommeinthisjob。Ican’tseemyselfmakingitgo。“
“Giveitabigtry。Doyourbest。Iasknomore，“saidMr。
Maitland。
“Mybest？That’sahardthing。GivemeabayonetandsetsomeHunsbeforeme，andI’lldomybest。Thisisdifferentsomehow。“
“Different，yetthesame。Thesamequalitiesmakeforsuccess。
Youhavethebrainsandwithyourgiftformachinery——Well，tryit。
YouandJackherewillmakethisgobetweenyou，asyoumadetheothergo。“
Thedoorclosedontheyoungman。
“Willhemakegood，Jack？“saidthefather，anxiously。
“Willanyofusmakegood？“
“Youwill，Jack，Iknow。Youcanstick。“
“Yes，Icanstick，Isuppose，but，afterall——well，we’llhaveagoatit，anyway。But，likeTony，Ifeellikesaying，’Don’texpecttoomuch。’“
“Onlyyourbest，Jack，that’sall。Takethreemonths，sixmonths，ayear，andgetholdoftheofficeendofthebusiness。Youhavebrainsenough。IwantaGeneralManagerrightnow，Wickesishardlyuptoit。Heknowsthebooksandheknowstheworksbutheknowsnothingelse。Hedoesn’tknowmennormarkets。Heisanofficemanpureandsimple，andhe’sold，tooold。Thefactis，Jack，IhavetobemyownManagerinsideandoutside。Myforemenaregood，loyal，reliablefellows，buttheyonlyknowtheirorders。
Iwantsomeonetostandbesideme。Theplanthasbeendoubledincapacityduringthewar。Wedidalotofwarwork——aeroplaneparts。Wegotthespruceintherawandworkeditup，goodwork，too，ifIdosayitmyself。Nobetterwasdone。“
“Iknowsomethingaboutthat，Dad。IhadadaywithBadgleyinToronto。Iknowsomethingaboutit，andIknowwherethemoneywent，too，Dad。“
“Themoney？Ofcourse，Icouldn’ttakethemoney——howcouldIwithmyboysatthewar，andothermen’sboys？“
“Rathernot。MyGod，Dad，ifIthought——！Butwhat’stheusetalking？TheyknowinLondonallabouttheAmbulanceEquipmentandtheMachineGunBattery，andtheHospital。DoyouknowwhyCaramustookajobinthePermanentForceinEngland？Itwaseitherthatorblowingouthisbrains。Hecouldnotfacehisfather，awarmillionaire。MyGod，howcouldhe？“
Theboywaswalkingabouthisroomwithfacewhiteandlipsquivering。
“CaramuswasinchargeofthatMachineGunSectionthatheldthelineandletusgetback。Everymanwipedout，andCaramuscarriedbacksmashedtosmallpieces——andhisfathermakingamillionoutofmunitions！MyGod！MyGod！“
Asilencefellintheroomforaminute。
“PooroldCaramus！IsawhimintheCityamonthago，“saidthefather。“Ipitiedthepoorwretch。HewasaloneintheClub，notasoulwouldspeaktohim。Hehasgothishell。“
“Hedeservesit——allofit，andallwholikehimhavegotfatonbloodmoney。Doyouknow，Dad，whenIseethosemengoingaboutintheopenandnoonekickingthemIgetfairlysick。Idon’twonderatsomeoftheboysseeingred。Youmarkmywords，wearegoingtohavebadtimesinthiscountrybeforelong。“
“Iamafraidofit，boy。Thingslookugly。EveninourownworksIfeelabadspiritabout。TherearesomenewcomersfromtheoldcountrywhomIcan’tsayIadmiremuch。Theygrouchandtheywon’twork。Ourproductionislowerthaneverinourhistoryandourlaborcostismorethantwicewhatitwasin1914。“
“Well，Dad，givethemalittletimetosettledown。IhavenomoreuseforaslackerthanIhaveforawarmillionaire。“
“Wecan’tstandmuchofthatthing。Financiallyweareinfairlygoodshape。Webrokeevenwithouraeroplanework。Butwehaveabigstockofspruceonhand——high-pricedstuff，too——andaheavy，veryheavyoverhead。Weshallweatheritallright。Idon’tmindthewages，butwemusthaveproduction。Andthat’swhyIwantyouwithme。“
“Youmustnotdependonmeformuchuseforsometimeatleast。
IknowalittleabouthandlingmenbutaboutmachineryIknownothing。“
“Neverfear，boy，you’vegotthemachineinstinctinyou。I
rememberyourholidayworkinthemill，yousee。Butyourplaceisintheoffice。Wickeswillshowyoutheropes，andyouwillmakegood，Iknow。AndIjustwanttosaythatyoudon’tknowhowgladIamtohaveyoucomeinwithme，Jack。Ifyourbrotherhadcomebackhewouldhavetakenhold，hewascutoutforthejob，but——“
“PooroldAndy！Hehadyourgeniusforthebusiness。Iwishhehadbeentheonetogetback！“
“Wehadnotthechoosing，Jack，andifhehadcomeweshouldhavefeltthesameaboutyou。GodknowswhatHeisdoing，andwecanonlydoourbest。“
“Well，Dad，“saidJack，risingandstandingnearhisfather’schair，“asIsaidbefore，I’llmakeagoatit，butdon’tcounttoomuchonme。“
“Iamcountingalotonyou。YouareallIhavenow。“Thefather’svoiceendedinahuskywhisper。Theboyswallowedtherisinglumpinhisthroatbutcouldfindnomorewordstogoonwith。Butinhishearttherewastheresolvethathewouldmakeanhonesttrytodoforhisfather’ssakewhathewouldnotforhisown。
Butbeforeamonthhadgonehewasheartilysickoftheoffice。Itwasindoors，andthepettyfussingwithtrivialdetailsirkedhim。
Accuracywasasinequanonofsuccessfulofficework，andaccuracyiseitherathingofnaturalgiftoristheresultoflongandpainfuldiscipline，andneitherbynaturenorbydisciplinehadJackcomeintothepossessionofthisprimequalificationforasuccessfulofficeman。HisledgerwellnighbroughttearstooldWickes’eyesandaddedaheavyloadtohisday’swork。NotthatoldWickesgrudgedtheextraburden，muchlessmadeanycomplaint；
ratherdidhecountitjoytobeabletocoverfromothereyesthanhisowntheerrorsthatwereinevitablytobefoundinJack’sdailywork。
Haditseemedworthwhile，Jackwouldhavedisciplinedhimselftoaccuracy。Butwhatwastheendofitall？Alargerplantwithmoremachinestobuyandmorementoworkthemandtobeoverseenandtobepaid，afewmorefiguresinaBankBook——whatelse？
Jack’stastesweresimple。Hedespisedtheostentationofwealthintheaccumulationofmerethings。Hehadonlypityfortheplungerandforthelooselivercontempt。Whyshouldhetiehimselftoadesk，awellappointeddeskitistrue，butstilladesk，inafour-walledroom，amuchfinerroomthanhisfatherhadeverknown，butaroomwhichbecametohimacage。Why？Ofcourse，therewashisfather——andJackwearilyturnedtohiscorrespondencebasket，sickofthesightofpaperandletterheadsandcostformsandproductionreports。Forhisfather’ssake，whohadonlyhim，hewouldcarryon。Andcarryonhedid，doggedly，wearily，boredtodeath，butstickingit。Thereportsfromtheworkswereoftenominous。Thingswerenotgoingwell。Therewasanundercurrentofunrestamongthemen。
“Idon’twonderatit，“saidJacktooldWickesoneday，whenthebookkeepersetbeforehimtheweek’spaysheetandproductionsheet，sidebyside。“Afterall，whyshouldthepoordevilsworkforus？“
“Forus，sir？“saidtheshockedWickes。“Forthemselves，surely。
Whatwouldtheydoforalivingiftherewasnowork？“
“That’sjustit，Wickes。Theygetaliving——isitworthwhile？“
“But，sir，“gaspedtheoldman，“theymustlive，and——“
“Whymustthey？“
“Becausetheywantto！Waittillyousee’emsick，sir。Myword！
TheydomakehastefortheDoctor。“
“Ifancytheydo，Wickes。Butallthesame，Idon’twonderthattheygrouchabit。“
“’Tisnotthegrumbling，sir，Ideplore，“saidWickes，“iftheywouldonlywork，orletthemachineswork。That’sthetrouble，sir。Why，sir，whenIcametoyourfather，sir，weneverlookedattheclock，wekeptourmindsonthework。“
“Howlongago，Wickes？“
“Thirty-oneyears，sir，comenextMichaelmas。AndgladIwastogetthejob，too。Yousee，sir，Ihadjustcometothecountry，andwiththemissusandacoupleofkids——“
“Thirty-oneyears！GreatCaesar！Andyou’veworkedatthisdeskforthirty-oneyears！Andwhathaveyougotoutofit？“
“Well，sir，notwhatyoumightcallaterriblelot。Ihadn’ttheeddicationformuch，asyoumightsay——but——well，there’smylittlehome，andwe’velivedhappythere，themissusandme，andthekids——
atleast，tillthewarcame。“Theoldmanpausedabruptly。
“You’reright，Wickes，byJove，“exclaimedJack，startingfromhisseatandgrippingtheoldman’shand。“Youhavemadealotoutofit——andyougaveasfineaboyaseversteppedinuniformtoyourcountry。WewereallproudofStephen，everymanofus。“
“Iknowthat，sir，andheoftenwrotethewifeaboutyou，sir，whichwedon’tforget，sir。Ofcourse，it’shardonherandtheboys——justcominguptobesomethin’attheschool。“
“Bytheway，Wickes，howaretheydoing？Twoofthem，aren’tthere？Let’ssee——there’sSteve，he’stheeldest——“
“No，sir，he’stheyoungest，sir。Robertistheeldest——fourteen，andquitecleverathisbooks。Pityhe’sgottoquitjustnow。“
“Quit？Notabitofit。Wemustseetothat。AndlittleSteve——
howistheback？“
“He’stwelve。Thebackhurtsalot，butheishappyenough，ifyougivehimapencil。They’reallwithusnow。“
“Ah，well，well。Ithinkyouhavemadesomethingoutofitafterall，Wickes。AndwemustseeaboutRobert。“
