comical concern。
〃It's very exciting。 I remember reading a book once on economics and
such things； and I couldn't sleep for a week。 It was called ‘The
Organization of Happiness；' I believe； and it described just how the
world ought to be arrangedand isn't。 I thought seriously of going to
Washington and telling the President and Congress about it。〃
〃It wouldn't have done any good；〃 said Janet。
〃No； I realized that。〃
〃The only thing that will do any good is to strike and keep on striking
until the workers own the millstake everything away from the
capitalists。〃
〃It's very simple；〃 he agreed； 〃much simpler than the book I read。
That's what they call syndicalism； isn't it？〃
〃Yes。〃 She was conscious of his friendliness； of the fact that his
skepticism was not cynical； yet she felt a strong desire to convince him；
to vindicate her new creed。 〃There's a man named Rolfe； an educated man
who's lived in Italy and England； who explains it wonderfully。 He's one
of the I。W。W。 leadersyou ought to hear him。〃
〃Rolfe converted you？ I'll go to hear him。〃
〃Yesbut you have to feel it； you have to know what it is to be kept
down and crushed。 If you'd only stay here awhile 〃
〃Oh； I intend to；〃 he replied。
She could not have said why； but she felt a certain relief on hearing
this。
〃Then you'll see for yourself！〃 she cried。 〃I guess that's what you've
come for； isn't it？〃
〃Well； partly。 To tell the truth； I've come to open a restaurant。〃
〃To open a restaurant！〃 Somehow she was unable to imagine him as the
proprietor of a restaurant。 〃But isn't it rather a bad time？〃 she
gasped。
〃I don't look as if I had an eye for businessdo I？ But I have。 No；
it's a good timeso many people will be hungry； especially children。
I'm going to open a restaurant for children。 Oh； it will be very modest；
of courseI suppose I ought to call it a soup kitchen。〃
〃Oh！〃 she exclaimed； staring at him。 〃Then you really〃 the sentence
remained unfinished。 〃I'm sorry；〃 she said simply。 〃You made me
think〃
〃Oh； you mustn't pay any attention to what I say。 Come 'round and see my
establishment； Number 77 Dey Street； one flight up； no elevator。 Will
you？〃
She laughed tremulously as he took her hand。
〃Yes indeed； I will；〃 she promised。 And she stood awhile staring after
him。 She was glad he had come to Hampton； and yet she did not even know
his name。
CHAPTER XVI
She had got another placesuch was the explanation of her new activities
Janet gave to Hannah； who received it passively。 And the question
dreaded about Ditmar was never asked。 Hannah had become as a child；
performing her tasks by the momentum of habituation； occasionally talking
simply of trivial； every…day affairs； as though the old life were going
on continuously。 At times； indeed； she betrayed concern about Edward；
wondering whether he were comfortable at the mill； and she washed and
darned the clothes he sent home by messenger。 She hoped he would not
catch cold。 Her suffering seemed to have relaxed。 It was as though the
tortured portion of her brain had at length been seared。 To Janet； her
mother's condition when she had time to think of itwas at once a relief
and a new and terrible source of anxiety。
Mercifully； however； she had little leisure to reflect on that tragedy；
else her own sanity might have been endangered。 As soon as breakfast was
over she hurried across the city to the Franco…Belgian Hall； and often
did not return until nine o'clock at night； usually so tired that she
sank into bed and fell asleep。 For she threw herself into her new
labours with the desperate energy that seeks forgetfulness； not daring to
pause to think about herself； to reflect upon what the future might hold
for her when the strike should be over。 Nor did she confine herself to
typewriting； but； as with Ditmar； constantly assumed a greater burden of
duty； helping Czernowitzwho had the work of five menwith his
accounts； with the distribution of the funds to the ever…increasing
number of the needy who were facing starvation。 The money was paid out
to them in proportion to the size of their families； as the strike became
more and more effective their number increased until many mills had
closed； other mills； including the Chippering； were still making a
desperate attempt to operate their looms； and sixteen thousand operatives
were idle。 She grew to know these operatives who poured all day long in
a steady stream through Headquarters； she heard their stories； she
entered into their lives； she made decisions。 Some； even in those early
days of the strike； were frauds； were hiding their savings； but for the
most part investigation revealed an appalling destitution； a resolution
to suffer for the worker's cause。 A few complained； the majority were
resigned； some indeed showed exaltation and fire； were undaunted by the
task of picketing in the cold mornings； by the presence of the soldiery。
In this work of dealing with the operatives Janet had the advice and help
of Anna Mower； a young woman who herself had been a skilled operative in
the Clarendon Mill； and who was giving evidence of unusual qualities of
organization and leadership。 Anna； with no previous practise in oratory；
had suddenly developed the gift of making speeches； the more effective
with her fellow workers because unstudied； because they flowed directly
out of an experience she was learning to interpret and universalize。
Janet； who heard her once or twice； admired and envied her。 They became
friends。
The atmosphere of excitement in which Janet now found herself was
cumulative。 Day by day one strange event followed another； and at times
it seemed as if this extraordinary existence into which she had been
plunged were all a feverish dream。 Hither； to the absurd little solle de
reunion of the Franco…Belgian Hall came notables from the great world；
emissaries from an uneasy Governor； delegations from the Legislature；
Members of the Congress of the United States and even Senators； students；
investigators； men and women of prominence in the universities； magazine
writers to consult with uncouth leaders of a rebellion that defied and
upset the powers which hitherto had so serenely ruled； unchallenged。
Rolfe identified these visitors； and one morning called her attention to
one who he said was the nation's foremost authority on social science。
Janet possessed all unconsciously the New England reverence for learning；
she was stirred by the sight of this distinguishedlooking person who sat
on the painted stage； fingering his glasses and talking to Antonelli。
The two men made a curious contrast。 But her days were full of contrasts
of which her mood exultingly approved。 The politicians were received
cavalierly。 Toward these； who sought to act as go…betweens in the
conflict； Antonelli was contemptuous； he behaved like the general of a
conquering army； and his audacity was reflected in the other leaders； in
Rolfe； in the Committee itself。
That Committee； a never…ending source of wonder to Janet； with its nine
or ten nationalities and interpreters； was indeed a triumph over the
obstacles of race and language； a Babel made successful； in a community
of AngloSaxon traditions； an amazing anomaly。 The habiliments of the
west； the sack coats and sweaters； the slouch hats and caps； the so…
called Derbies pulled down over dark brows and flashing eyes lent to
these peasant types an incongruity that had the air of ferocity。 The
faces of most of them were covered with a blue…black stubble of beard。
Some slouched in their chairs； others stood and talked in groups；
gesticulating with cigars and pipes； yet a keen spectator； after watching
them awhile through the smoke； might have been able to pick out striking
personalities among them。 He would surely have noticed Froment； the
stout； limping man under whose white eyebrows flashed a pair of livid
blue and peculiarly Gallic eyes； he held the Belgians in his hand：
Lindtzki； the Pole； with his zealot's face； Radeau； the big Canadian in
the checked Mackinaw； and Findley； the young American…less by any
arresting quality of feature than by an expression suggestive of
practical wisdom。
Imagine then； on an afternoon in the middle phase of the strike； some
half dozen of the law…makers of a sovereign state； top…hatted and
conventionally garbed in black； accustomed to authority； to conferring
favours instead of requesting them； climbing the steep stairs and pausing
on the threshold of that hall； fingering their watch chains； awaiting
recognition by the representatives of the new and bewildering force that
had arisen in an historic commonwealth。 A 〃debate〃 was in progress。
Some of the debaters； indeed； looked over their shoulders； but the
leader； who sat above them framed in the sylvan setting of the stage；
never so much as deigned to glance up from his newspaper。 A half…burned
cigar rolled between his mobile lips； he sat on the back of his neck； and
yet he had an air Napoleonic； Nietzschean； it might better be said
although it is safe to assert that these moulders of American
institutions knew little about that terrible philosopher who had raised
his voice against the 〃slave morals of Christianity。〃 It was their first
experience with the superman。。。。 It remained for the Canadian； Radeau；
when a lull arrived in the turmoil； to suggest that the gentlemen be
given chairs。
〃Sure； give them chairs；〃 assented Antonelli in a voice hoarse from
speech…making。 Breath…taking audacity to certain spectators who had
followed the delegation hither； some of whom could not refrain from
speculating whether it heralded the final scrapping of the machinery of
the state； amusing to cynical metropolitan reporters； who grinned at one
another as they prepared to take down the proceedings； evoking a fierce
approval in the breasts of all rebels among whom was Janet。 The
Legislative Chairman； a stout and suave gentleman of Irish birth；
proceeded to explain how greatly concerned was the Legislature that the
deplorable warfare within the state should cease； they had come； he
declared； to aid in bringing about justice between labour and capital。
〃We'll get jus