a far country-第53章
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〃He'll be on guard； Scherer；〃 said Leonard Dickinson； putting his arm
around my chief。
〃Good night； Senator；〃 said Tallant； and all echoed the word； which
struck me as peculiarly appropriate。 Much as I had admired Mr。 Watling
before； it seemed indeed as if he had undergone some subtle change in the
last few hours； gained in dignity and greatness by the action of the
people that day。 When it came my turn to bid him good night； he retained
my hand in his。
〃Don't go yet； Hugh；〃 he said。
〃But you must be tired；〃 I objected。
〃This sort of thing doesn't make a man tired；〃 he laughed； leading me
back to the library； where he began to poke the fire into a blaze。 〃Sit
down awhile。 You must be tired； I think；you've worked hard in this
campaign； a good deal harder than I have。 I haven't said much about it；
but I appreciate it； my boy。〃 Mr。 Watling had the gift of expressing his
feelings naturally； without sentimentality。 I would have given much for
that gift。
〃Oh； I liked it；〃 I replied awkwardly。
I read a gentle amusement in his eyes； and also the expression of
something else； difficult to define。 He had seated himself； and was
absently thrusting at the logs with the poker。
〃You've never regretted going into law？〃 he asked suddenly； to my
surprise。
〃Why； no； sir；〃 I said。
〃I'm glad to hear that。 I feel； to a considerable extent； responsible
for your choice of a profession。〃
〃My father intended me to be a lawyer；〃 I told him。 〃But it's true that
you gave me mymy first enthusiasm。〃
He looked up at me at the word。
〃I admired your father。 He seemed to me to be everything that a lawyer
should be。 And years ago； when I came to this city a raw country boy
from upstate； he represented and embodied for me all the fine traditions
of the profession。 But the practice of law isn't what it was in his day；
Hugh。〃
〃No；〃 I agreed； 〃that could scarcely be expected。〃
〃Yes； I believe you realize that；〃 he said。 〃I've watched you； I've
taken a personal pride in you； and I have an idea that eventually you
will succeed me hereneither Fowndes nor Ripon have the peculiar ability
you have shown。 You and I are alike in a great many respects； and I am
inclined to think we are rather rare； as men go。 We are able to keep one
object vividly in view； so vividly as to be able to work for it day and
night。 I could mention dozens who had and have more natural talent for
the law than I； more talent for politics than I。 The same thing may be
said about you。 I don't regard either of us as natural lawyers； such as
your father was。 He couldn't help being a lawyer。〃
Here was new evidence of his perspicacity。
〃But surely；〃 I ventured； 〃you don't feel any regrets concerning your
career； Mr。 Watling？〃
〃No；〃 he said； 〃that's just the point。 But no two of us are made wholly
alike。 I hadn't practised law very long before I began to realize that
conditions were changing； that the new forces at work in our industrial
life made the older legal ideals impracticable。 It was a case of
choosing between efficiency and inefficiency； and I chose efficiency。
Well； that was my own affair； but when it comes to influencing others〃
He paused。 〃I want you to see this as I do； not for the sake of
justifying myself； but because I honestly believe there is more to it
than expediency；a good deal more。 There's a weak way of looking at it；
and a strong way。 And if I feel sure you understand it； I shall be
satisfied。
〃Because things are going to change in this country； Hugh。 They are
changing； but they are going to change more。 A man has got to make up
his mind what he believes in； and be ready to fight for it。 We'll have
to fight for it； sooner perhaps than we realize。 We are a nation divided
against ourselves； democracyJacksonian democracy； at all events； is a
flat failure； and we may as well acknowledge it。 We have a political
system we have outgrown； and which； therefore； we have had to nullify。
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 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
