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 notin 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 andin 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 understandwe 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 youyou 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 nowof 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 nevernever as a
wholenot 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。〃
〃Onlythere 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； I
was 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 marriagebut 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 I
was organizing the Elkington Power and Traction Company for George I
found 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。
There came moments when I grew slightly alarmed； as； for instance； one
Sunday in the early spring when I was dining at the Ezra Hutchins's house
and surprised Mrs。 Hutchins's glance on me； suspecting her of seeking to
divine what manner of man I was。 I became self…conscious； I dared not
look at Maude； who sat across the table； thereafter I began to feel that
the Hutchins connection regarded me as a suitor。 I had grown intimate
with George and his wife； who did not refrain from sly allusions； and
George himself once remarked； with characteristic tact； that I was most
conscientious in my attention to the traction affair； I have reason to
believe they were even less delicate with Maude。 This was the logical
time to withdrawbut I dallied。 The experience was becoming more
engrossing；if I may so describe it；and spring was approaching。 The
stars in their courses were conspiring。 I was by no means as yet a self…
acknowledged wooer； and we discussed love in its lighter phases through
the medium of literature。 Heaven forgive me for calling it so！ About
that period； it will be remembered； a mushroom growth of volumes of a
certain kind sprang into existence； little books with 〃artistic〃 bindings
and wide margins； sweetened essays； some of them written in beautiful
English by dilettante authors for drawing…room consumption； and
collections of short stories； no doubt chiefly bought by philanderers
like myself； who were thus enabled to skate on thin ice over deep water。
It was a most delightful relationship that these helped to support； and I
fondly believed I could reach shore again whenever I chose。
There came a Sunday in early May； one of those days when the feminine
assumes a large importance。 I had been to the Hutchinses' church； and
Maude； as she sat and prayed decorously in the pew beside me； suddenly
increased in attractiveness and desirability。 Her voice was very sweet；
and I felt a delicious and languorous thrill which I identified not only
with love； but also with a reviving spirituality。 How often the two seem
to go hand in hand！
She wore a dress of a filmy material； mauve； with a design in gold thread
running through it。 Of late； it seemed； she had had more new dresses：
and their modes seemed more cosmopolitan； at least to the masculine eye。
How delicately her hair grew； in little； shining wisps； around her white
neck！ I could have reached out my hand and touched her。 And it was this
desire；although by no means overwhelming；that startled me。 Did I
really want her？ The consideration of this vital question occupied the
whole time of the sermon； made me distrait at dinner；a large family
gathering。 Later I found myself alone with heron a bench in the
Hutchinses' garden where we had walked the day of my arrival； during the
campaign。
The gardens were very different； now。 The trees had burst forth again
into leaf； the spiraea bushes seemed weighted down with snow； and with a
note like that of the quivering bass string of a 'cello the bees hummed
among the fruit blossoms。 And there beside me in her filmy dress was
Maude； a part of it allthe meaning of all that set my being clamouring。
She was like some ripened； delicious flower ready to be picked。。。。 One
of those pernicious； make…believe volumes had fallen on the bench between
us； for I could not read any more； I could not think； I touched her hand；
and when she drew it gently away I glanced at her。 Reason made a valiant
but hopeless effort to assert itself。 Was I sure that I wanted herfor
life？ No use！ I wanted her now； no matter what price that future might
demand。 An awkward silence fell between usawkward to me； at leastand
I； her guide and mentor； became banal； apologetic； confused。 I made some
idiotic remark about being together in the Garden of Eden。
〃I remember Mr。 Doddridge saying in Bible class that it was supposed to
be on the Euphrates；〃 she replied。 〃But it's been destroyed by the
flood。〃
〃Let's make anotherone of our own；〃 I suggested。
〃Why； how silly you are this afternoon。〃
〃What's to prevent usMaude？〃 I demanded； with a dry throat。
〃Nonsense！〃 she laughed。 In proportion as I lost poise she seemed to
gain it。
〃It's not nonsense；〃 I faltered。 〃If we were married。〃
At last the fateful words were pronouncedirrevocably。 And； instead of
qualms； I felt nothing but relief； joy that I had been swept along by the
flood of feeling。 She did not look at me； but gazed straight ahead of
her。
〃If I love you； Maude？〃 I stammered； after a moment。
〃But I don't love you；〃 she replied； steadily。
Never in my life had I been so utterly taken aback。
〃Do you mean；〃 I managed to say； 〃that after all these months you don't
like me a little？〃
〃‘Liking' isn't loving。〃 She looked me full in the face。 〃I like you
very much。〃
〃But〃 there I stopped； paralyzed by what appeared to me the
quintessence of feminine inconsistency and caprice。 Yet； as I stared at
her； she certai