a far country-第86章
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more formidable than I had thought？
There was an awkward silence。
〃You mustn't imagine； Paret； that I have any personal animus against you；
or against any of the men with whom you're associated；〃 he went on； after
a moment。 〃I'm sorry you're on that side； that's all；I told you so
once before。 I'm not calling you names； I'm not talking about morality
and immorality。 Immorality； when you come down to it； is often just the
opposition to progress that comes from blindness。 I don't make the
mistake of blaming a few individuals for the evils of modern industrial
society； and on the other hand you mustn't blame individuals for the
discomforts of what you call the reform movement； for that movement is
merely a symptoma symptom of a disease due to a change in the structure
of society。 We'll never have any happiness or real prosperity until we
cure that disease。 I was inclined to blame you once； at the capital that
time； because it seemed to me that a man with all the advantages you have
had and a mind like yours didn't have much excuse。 But I've thought
about it since； I realize now that I've had a good many more 'advantages'
than you； and to tell you the truth； I don't see how you could have come
out anywhere else than where you are；all your surroundings and training
were against it。 That doesn't mean that you won't grasp the situation
some dayI have an idea you will。 It's just an idea。 The man who ought
to be condemned isn't the man that doesn't understand what's going on；
but the man who comes to understand and persists in opposing it。〃 He
rose and looked down at me with the queer； disturbing smile I remembered。
〃I get off at this corner；〃 he added； rather diffidently。 〃I hope you'll
forgive me for being personal。 I didn't mean to be； but you rather
forced it on me。〃
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 I replied。 The car stopped； and he hurried off。
I watched his tall figure as it disappeared among the crowd on the
sidewalk。。。。
I returned to my office in one of those moods that are the more
disagreeable because conflicting。 To…day in particular I had been
aroused by what Tom used to call Krebs's 〃crust；〃 and as I sat at my desk
warm waves of resentment went through me at the very notion of his
telling me that my view was limited and that therefore my professional
conduct was to be forgiven！ It was he； the fanatic； who saw things in
the larger scale！ an assumption the more exasperating because at the
moment he made it he almost convinced me that he did； and I was unable to
achieve for him the measure of contempt I desired； for the incident； the
measure of ridicule it deserved。 My real animus was due to the fact that
he had managed to shake my self…confidence； to take the flavour out of my
achievements；a flavour that was in the course of an hour to be
completely restored by one of those interesting coincidences occasionally
occurring in life。 A young member of my staff entered with a telegram； I
tore it open； and sat staring at it a moment before I realized that it
brought to me the greatest honour of my career。
The Banker…Personality in New York had summoned me for consultation。 To
be recognized by him conferred indeed an ennoblement； the Star and
Garter； so to speak； of the only great realm in America； that of high
finance； and the yellow piece of paper I held in my hand instantly re…
magnetized me； renewed my energy； and I hurried home to pack my bag in
order to catch the seven o'clock train。 I announced the news to Maude。
〃I imagine it's because he knows I have made something of a study of the
coal roads situation；〃 I added。
〃I'm glad； Hugh；〃 she said。 〃I suppose it's a great compliment。〃
Never had her inadequacy to appreciate my career been more apparent！ I
looked at her curiously； to realize once more with peculiar sharpness how
far we were apart； but now the resolutions I had madeand never carried
outon that first Christmas in the new home were lacking。 Indeed； it
was the futility of such resolutions that struck me at this moment。 If
her manner had been merely one of indifference； it would in a way have
been easier to bear； she was simply incapable of grasping the
significance of the event； the meaning to me of the years of unceasing；
ambitious effort it crowned。
〃Yes； it is something of a recognition；〃 I replied。 〃Is there anything I
can get for you in New York？ I don't know how long I shall have to stay…
…I'll telegraph you when I'm getting back。〃 I kissed her and hurried out
to the automobile。 As I drove off I saw her still standing in the
doorway looking after me。。。。 In the station I had a few minutes to
telephone Nancy。
〃If you don't see me for a few days it's because I've gone to New York；〃
I informed her。
〃Something important； I'm sure。〃
〃How did you guess？〃 I demanded； and heard her laugh。
〃Come back soon and tell me about it；〃 she said； and I walked；
exhilarated； to the train。。。。 As I sped through the night； staring out
of the window into the darkness； I reflected on the man I was going to
see。 But at that time； although he represented to me the quintessence of
achievement and power； I did not by any means grasp the many sided
significance of the phenomenon he presented； though I was keenly aware of
his influence； and that men spoke of him with bated breath。 Presidents
came and went； kings and emperors had responsibilities and were subject
daily to annoyances； but this man was a law unto himself。 He did exactly
what he chose； and compelled other men to do it。 Wherever commerce
reigned；and where did it not？he was king and head of its Holy Empire；
Pope and Emperor at once。 For he had his code of ethics； his religion；
and those who rebelled； who failed to conform； he excommunicated； a code
something like the map of Europe；apparently inconsistent in places。
What I did not then comprehend was that he was the American Principle
personified； the supreme individual assertion of the conviction that
government should remain modestly in the background while the efficient
acquired the supremacy that was theirs by natural right； nor had I
grasped at that time the crowning achievement of a unity that fused
Christianity with those acquisitive dispositions said to be inherent in
humanity。 In him the Lion and the Lamb； the Eagle and the Dove dwelt
together in amity and power。
New York； always a congenial place to gentlemen of vitality and means and
influential connections； had never appeared to me more sparkling； more
inspiring。 Winter had relented； spring had not as yet begun。 And as I
sat in a corner of the dining…room of my hotel looking out on the sunlit
avenue I was conscious of partaking of the vigour and confidence of the
well…dressed； clear…eyed people who walked or drove past my window with
the air of a conquering race。 What else was there in the world more
worth having than this conquering sense？ Religion might offer charms to
the weak。 Yet here religion itself became sensible； and wore the garb of
prosperity。 The stonework of the tall church on the corner was all lace；
and the very saints in their niches； who had known martyrdom and poverty；
seemed to have renounced these as foolish； and to look down complacently
on the procession of wealth and power。。 Across the street； behind a
sheet of glass； was a carrosserie where were displayed the shining yellow
and black panels of a closed automobile； the cost of which would have
built a farm…house and stocked a barn。
At eleven o'clock； the appointed hour； I was in Wall Street。 Sending in
my name； I was speedily ushered into a room containing a table； around
which were several men； but my eyes were drawn at once to the figure of
the great banker who sat； massive and preponderant； at one end； smoking a
cigar； and listening in silence to the conversation I had interrupted。
He rose courteously and gave me his hand； and a glance that is
unforgettable。
〃It is good of you to come； Mr。 Paret；〃 he said simply； as though his
summons had not been a command。 〃Perhaps you know some of these
gentlemen。〃
One of them was our United States Senator； Theodore Watling。 He； as it
turned out； had been summoned from Washingto
