and because she didn't complain of my friendship with Nancy although I
should vehemently have denied there was anything to complain of。 I
respected Maude。 If she was not a squaw； she performed religiously the
traditional squaw duties； and made me comfortable： and the fact that we
lived separate mental existences did not trouble me because I never
thought of hersor even that she had one。 She had the children； and
they seemed to suffice。 She never renewed her appeal for my confidence；
and I forgot that she had made it。
Nevertheless I always felt a tug at my heartstrings when June came around
and it was time for her and the children to go to Mattapoisett for the
summer； when I accompanied them； on the evening of their departure； to
the smoky； noisy station and saw deposited in the sleeping…car their
luggage and shawls and bundles。 They always took the evening train to
Boston； it was the best。 Tom and Susan were invariably there with candy
and toys to see them offif Susan and her children had not already gone…
…and at such moments my heart warmed to Tom。 And I was astonished as I
clung to Matthew and Moreton and little Biddy at the affection that
welled up within me； saddened when I kissed Maude good…bye。 She too was
sad； and always seemed to feel compunctions for deserting me。
〃I feel so selfish in leaving you all alone！〃 she would say。 〃If it
weren't for the childrenthey need the sea air。 But I know you don't
miss me as I miss you。 A man doesn't； I suppose。。。。 Please don't work
so hard； and promise me you'll come on and stay a long time。 You can if
you want to。 We shan't starve。〃 She smiled。 〃That nice room； which is
yours； at the southeast corner； is always waiting for you。 And you do
like the sea； and seeing the sail…boats in the morning。〃
I felt an emptiness when the train pulled out。 I did love my family；
after all！ I would go back to the deserted house； and I could not bear
to look in at the nursery door； at the little beds with covers flung over
them。 Why couldn't I appreciate these joys when I had them？
One evening； as we went home in an open street…car together； after such a
departure； Tom blurted out：
〃Hugh； I believe I care for your family as much as for my own。 I often
wonder if you realize how wonderful these children are！ My boys are just
plain ruffiansalthough I think they're pretty decent ruffians； but
Matthew has a mindhe's thoughtfuland an imagination。 He'll make a
name for himself some day if he's steered properly and allowed to develop
naturally。 Moreton's more like my boys。 And as for Chickabiddy！〃
words failed him。
I put my hand on his knee。 I actually loved him again as I had loved and
yearned for him as a child；he was so human； so dependable。 And why
couldn't this feeling last？ He disapprovedfoolishly； I thoughtof my
professional career； and this was only one of his limitations。 But I
knew that he was loyal。 Why hadn't I been able to breathe and be
reasonably happy in that atmosphere of friendship and love in which I had
been placedor rather in which I had placed myself？。。。。 Before the
summer was a day or two older I had grown accustomed to being alone； and
enjoyed the liberty； and when Maude and the children returned in the
autumn； similarly； it took me some days to get used to the restrictions
imposed by a household。 I run the risk of shocking those who read this
by declaring that if my family had been taken permanently out of my life；
I should not long have missed them。 But on the whole； in those years my
marriage relation might be called a negative one。 There were moments； as
I have described； when I warmed to Maude； moments when I felt something
akin to a violent antagonism aroused by little mannerisms and tricks she
had。 The fact that we got along as well as we did was probably due to
the orthodox teaching with which we had been inoculated；to the effect
that matrimony was a moral trial； a shaking…down process。 But moral
trials were ceasing to appeal to people； and more and more of them were
refusing to be shaken down。 We didn't cut the Gordian knot； but we
managed to loosen it considerably。
I have spoken of a new species of titans who inhabited the giant
buildings in Wall Street； New York； and fought among themselves for
possession of the United States of America。 It is interesting to note
that in these struggles a certain chivalry was observed among the
combatants； no matter how bitter the rivalry： for instance； it was deemed
very bad form for one of the groups of combatants to take the public into
their confidence； cities were upset and stirred to the core by these
conflicts； and the citizens never knew who was doing the fighting； but
imagined that some burning issue was at stake that concerned them。 As a
matter of fact the issue always did concern them； but not in the way they
supposed。
Gradually； out of the chaotic melee in which these titans were engaged
had emerged one group more powerful than the rest and more respectable；
whose leader was the Personality to whom I have before referred。 He and
his group had managed to gain control of certain conservative fortresses
in various cities such as the Corn National Bank and the Ashuela
Telephone Companyto mention two of many： Adolf Scherer was his ally；
and the Boyne Iron Works； Limited； was soon to be merged by him into a
greater corporation still。 Leonard Dickinson might be called his local
governor…general。 We manned the parapets and kept our ears constantly to
the ground to listen for the rumble of attacks； but sometimes they burst
upon us fiercely and suddenly； without warning。 Such was the assault on
the Ashuela； which for years had exercised an apparently secure monopoly
of the city's telephone service； which had been able to ignore with
complacency the shrillest protests of unreasonable subscribers。 Through
the Pilot it was announced to the public that certain benevolent 〃Eastern
capitalists〃 were ready to rescue them from their thraldom if the city
would grant them a franchise。 Mr。 Lawler； the disinterestedness of whose
newspaper could not be doubted； fanned the flame day by day； sent his
reporters about the city gathering instances of the haughty neglect of
the Ashuela； proclaiming its instruments antiquated compared with those
used in more progressive cities； as compared with the very latest
inventions which the Automatic Company was ready to install provided they
could get their franchise。 And the prices！ These； too； would fall
under competition。 It was a clever campaign。 If the city would give
them a franchise； that Automatic Companyso well named！ would provide
automatic instruments。 Each subscriber； by means of a numerical disk；
could call up any other； subscriber； there would be no central operator；
no listening； no tapping of wires； the number of calls would be
unlimited。 As a proof of the confidence of these Eastern gentlemen in
our city； they were willing to spend five millions； and present more than
six hundred telephones free to the city departments！ What was fairer；
more generous than this！ There could be no doubt that popular enthusiasm
was enlisted in behalf of the 〃Eastern Capitalists；〃 who were made to
appear in the light of Crusaders ready to rescue a groaning people from
the thrall of monopoly。 The excitement approached that of a presidential
election； and became the dominant topic at quick…lunch counters and in
street…cars。 Cheap and efficient service！ Down with the Bastille of
monopoly！
As counsel for the Ashuela； Mr。 Ogilvy sent for me； and by certain secret
conduits of information at my disposal I was not long in discovering the
disquieting fact that a Mr。 Orthwein； who was described as a gentleman
with fat fingers and a plausible manner； had been in town for a week and
had been twice seen entering and emerging from Monahan's saloon。 In
short； Mr。 Jason had already been 〃seen。〃 Nevertheless I went to him
myself； to find him for the first time in my experience absolutely non…
committal。
〃What's the Ashuela willing to do？〃 he demanded。
I mentioned a sum； and he shook his head。 I mentioned another； and still
he shook his head。
〃Come 'round again；〃 he said。。。
I was compelled to report this alarming situation to Ogilvy and Dickinson
and a few chosen members of a panicky board of directors。
〃It's that damned Grannis crowd；〃 said Dickinson； mentioning an
aggressive gentleman who had migrated from Chicago to Wall Street some
five years before in a pink collar。
〃But what's to be done？〃 demanded Ogilvy； playing nervously with a gold
pencil on the polished table。 He was one of those Americans who in a
commercial atmosphere become prematurely white； and today his boyish；
smooth…shaven face was almost as devoid of colour as his hair。 Even
Leonard Dickinson showed anxiety； which was unusual for him。
〃You've got to fix it； Hugh；〃 he said。
I did not see my way； but I had long ago learned to assume the unruffled
air and judicial manner of speaking that inspires the layman with almost
superstitious confidence in the lawyer。。。。
〃We'll find a way out；〃 I said。
Mr。 Jason； of course； held the key to the situation； and jus