第75章

There are certain needs,certain tendencies of development in nations as well as in individuals,--needs stronger than the state,stronger than the law or constitution.In order to make our resources effective,combinations of capital are more and more necessary,and no more to be denied than a chemical process,given the proper ingredients,can be thwarted.The men who control capital must have a free hand,or the structure will be destroyed.This compels us to do many things which we would rather not do,which we might accomplish openly and unopposed if conditions were frankly recognized,and met by wise statesmanship which sought to bring about harmony by the reshaping of laws and policies.Do you follow me?""Yes,"I answered."But I have never heard the situation stated so clearly.Do you think the day will come when statesmanship will recognize this need?""Ah,"he said,"I'm afraid not--in my time,at least.But we shall have to develop that kind of statesmen or go on the rocks.Public opinion in the old democratic sense is a myth;it must be made by strong individuals who recognize and represent evolutionary needs,otherwise it's at the mercy of demagogues who play fast and loose with the prejudice and ignorance of the mob.The people don't value the vote,they know nothing about the real problems.So far as I can see,they are as easily swayed to-day as the crowd that listened to Mark Antony's oration about Caesar.

You've seen how we have to handle them,in this election and--in other matters.It isn't a pleasant practice,something we'd indulge in out of choice,but the alternative is unthinkable.We'd have chaos in no time.

We've just got to keep hold,you understand--we can't leave it to the irresponsible.""Yes,"I said.In this mood he was more impressive than I had ever known him,and his confidence flattered and thrilled me.

"In the meantime,we're criminals,"he continued."From now on we'll have to stand more and more denunciation from the visionaries,the dissatisfied,the trouble makers.We may as well make up our minds to it.But we've got something on our side worth fighting for,and the man who is able to make that clear will be great.""But you--you are going to the Senate,"I reminded him.

He shook his head.

"The time has not yet come,"he said."Confusion and misunderstanding must increase before they can diminish.But I have hopes of you,Hugh,or I shouldn't have spoken.I shan't be here now--of course I'll keep in touch with you.I wanted to be sure that you had the right view of this thing.""I see it now,"I said."I had thought of it,but never--never as a whole--not in the large sense in which you have expressed it."To attempt to acknowledge or deprecate the compliment he had paid me was impossible;I felt that he must have read my gratitude and appreciation in my manner.

"I mustn't keep you up until morning."He glanced at the clock,and went with me through the hall into the open air.A meteor darted through the November night."We're like that,"he observed,staring after it,a "flash across the darkness,and we're gone.""Only--there are many who haven't the satisfaction of a flash,"I was moved to reply.

He laughed and put his hand on my shoulder as he bade me good night.

"Hugh,you ought to get married.I'll have to find a nice girl for you,"he said.With an elation not unmingled with awe I made my way homeward.

Theodore Watling had given me a creed.

A week or so after the election I received a letter from George Hutchins asking me to come to Elkington.I shall not enter into the details of the legal matter involved.Many times that winter I was a guest at the yellow-brick house,and I have to confess,as spring came on,that I made several trips to Elkington which business necessity did not absolutely demand.

I considered Maude Hutchins,and found the consideration rather a delightful process.As became an eligible and successful young man,Iwas careful not to betray too much interest;and I occupied myself at first with a review of what I deemed her shortcomings.Not that I was thinking of marriage--but I had imagined the future Mrs.Paret as tall;Maude was up to my chin:again,the hair of the fortunate lady was to be dark,and Maude's was golden red:my ideal had esprit,lightness of touch,the faculty of seizing just the aspect of a subject that delighted me,and a knowledge of the world;Maude was simple,direct,and in a word provincial.Her provinciality,however,was negative rather than positive,she had no disagreeable mannerisms,her voice was not nasal;her plasticity appealed to me.I suppose I was lost without knowing it when I began to think of moulding her.

All of this went on at frequent intervals during the winter,and while Iwas organizing the Elkington Power and Traction Company for George Ifound time to dine and sup at Maude's house,and to take walks with her.

I thought I detected an incense deliciously sweet;by no means overpowering,like the lily's,but more like the shy fragrance of the wood flower.I recall her kind welcomes,the faint deepening of colour in her cheeks when she greeted me,and while I suspected that she looked up to me she had a surprising and tantalizing self-command.