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spent most of his time presenting cases in committees： and in warding off
Ditmar's objections he was forever indulging in such maddening phrases as；
〃Before we come to that； let me say a word just here。〃 Ditmar hated words。
His outbursts； his efforts to stop the flow of them were not unlike the futile
charges of a large and powerful animal harassed by a smaller and more agile
one。 With nimble politeness； with an exasperating air of deference to Ditmar's
opinions； Mr。 Siddons gave ground； only to return to the charge； yet； despite a
manner and method which； when contrasted to Ditmar's； verged on the ludicrous；
Mr。 Siddons had a force and fire of his own； nervous； almost fanatical： when he
dwelt on the misery he had seen； and his voice trembled from the intensity of
his feeling； Janet began to be moved。 It was odd； considering the struggle for
existence of her own family； that these foreigners had remained outside the
range of her sympathy。
〃I guess you'll find；〃 Ditmar had interrupted peremptorily； 〃I guess you'll
find； if you look up the savings banks statistics； these people have got
millions tucked away。 And they send a lot of it to the other side； they go
back themselves； and though they live like cattle； they manage to buy land。
Ask the real estate men。 Why； I could show you a dozen who worked in the mills
a few years ago and are capitalists to…day。〃
〃I don't doubt it； Mr。 Ditmar；〃 Siddons gracefully conceded。 〃But what does it
prove？ Merely the cruelty of an economic system based on ruthless competition。
The great majority who are unable to survive the test pay the price。 And the
community also pays the price； the state and nation pay it。 And we have this
misery on our consciences。 I've no doubt you could show me some who have grown
rich； but if you would let me I could take you to families in desperate want；
living in rooms too dark to read in at midday in clear weather； where the
husband doesn't get more than seven dollars a week when the mills are running
full time； where the woman has to look out for the children and work for the
lodgers； and even with lodgers they get into debt； and the woman has to go into
the mills to earn money for winter clothing。 I've seen enough instances of
this kind to offset the savings bank argument。 And even then； when you have a
family where the wife and older children work； where the babies are put out to
board； where there are three and four lodgers in a room； why do you suppose
they live that way？ Isn't it in the hope of freeing themselves ultimately from
these very conditions？ And aren't these conditions a disgrace to Hampton and
America？〃
〃Well； what am I to do about it？〃 Ditmar demanded。
〃I see that these operatives have comfortable and healthful surroundings in the
mill； I've spent money to put in the latest appliances。 That's more than a
good many mills I could mention attempt。〃
〃You are a person of influence； Mr。 Ditmar； you have more influence than any
man in Hampton。 You can bring pressure to bear on the city council to enforce
and improve the building ordinances； you can organize a campaign of public
opinion against certain property owners。〃
〃Yes；〃 retorted Ditmar； 〃and what then？ You raise the rents； and you won't get
anybody to live in the houses。 They'll move out to settlements like Glendale
full of dirt and vermin and disease and live as they're accustomed to。 What
you reformers are actually driving at is that we should raise wagesisn't it？
If we raised wages they'd live like rats anyway。 I give you credit for
sincerity； Mr。 Siddons； but I don't want you to think I'm not as much
interested in the welfare of these people as you and the men behind you。 The
trouble is； you only see one side of this question。 When you're in my
position； you're up against hard facts。 We can't pay a dubber or a drawing
tender any more than he's worth； whether he has a wife or children in the mills
or whether he hasn't。 We're in competition with other mills； we're in
competition with the South。 We can't regulate the cost of living。 We do our
best to make things right in the mills； and that's all we can do。 We can't
afford to be sentimental about life。 Competition's got to be the rule； the
world's made that way。 Some are efficient and some aren't。 Good God； any man
who's had anything to do with hiring labour and running a plant has that
drummed into him hard。 You talk about ordinances； lawsthere are enough laws
and ordinances in this city and in this state right now。 If we have any more
the mills will have to shut down； and these people will starveall of 'em。〃
Ditmar's chair came down on its four legs； and he flung his cigar away。 〃Send
me a copy of your survey when it's published。 I'll look it over。〃
〃Well； what do you think of the nerve of a man like that？〃 Ditmar exploded；
when Mr。 Siddons had bowed himself out。 〃Comes in here to advise me that it's
my business to look out for the whole city of Hampton。 I'd like to see him up
against this low…class European labour trying to run a mill with them。 They're
here one day and there the next； they don't know what loyalty is。 You've got
to drive 'emif you give 'em an inch they'll jump at your throat； dynamite
your property。 Why； there's nothing I wouldn't do for them if I could depend
on them； I'd build 'em houses； I'd have automobiles to take 'em home。 As it
is； I do my best； though they don't deserve it；in slack seasons I run half
time when I oughtn't to be running at all。〃
His tone betrayed an effort of self…justification； and his irritation had been
increased by the suspicion in Janet of a certain lack of the sympathy on which
he had counted。 She sat silent； gazing searchingly at his face。
〃What's the matter？〃 he demanded。 〃You don't mean to say you agree with that
kind of talk？〃
〃I was wondering〃 she began。
〃What？〃
〃If you wereif you could really understand those who are driven to work in
order to keep alive？〃
〃Understand them！ Why not？〃 he asked。
〃Becausebecause you're on top； you've always been successful； you're pretty
much your own masterand that makes it different。 I'm not blaming youin
your place I'd be the same； I'm sure。 But this man； Siddons； made me think。
I've lived like that； you see； I know what it is； in a way。〃
〃Not like these foreigners！〃 he protested。
〃Oh； almost as bad；〃 she cried with vehemence； and Ditmar； stopped suddenly in
his pacing as by a physical force； looked at her with the startled air of the
male who has inadvertently touched off one of the many hidden springs in the
feminine emotional mechanism。 〃How do you know what it is to live in a
squalid； ugly street； in dark little rooms that smell of cooking； and not be
able to have any of the finer； beautiful things in life？ Unless you'd wanted
these things as I've wanted them； you couldn't know。 Oh； I can understand what
it would feel like to strike； to wish to dynamite men like you！〃
〃You can！〃 he exclaimed in amazement。 〃You！〃
〃Yes； me。 You don't understand these people； you couldn't feel sorry for them
any more than you could feel sorry for me。 You want them to run your mills for
you； you don't want to know how they feel or how they live； and you just want
mefor your pleasure。〃
He was indeed momentarily taken aback by this taunt； which no woman in his
experience had had the wit and spirit to fling at him； but he was not the type
of man to be shocked by it。 On the contrary； it swept away his irritation； and
as a revelation of her inner moltenness stirred him to a fever heat as he
approached and stood over her。
〃You littlepanther！〃 he whispered。 〃You want beautiful things； do you？
Well； I'll give 'em to you。 I'll take care of you。〃
〃Do you think I want them from you？〃 she retorted； almost in tears。 〃Do you
think I want anybody to take care of me？ That shows how little you know me。 I
want to be independent； to do my work and pay for what I get。〃
Janet herself was far from comprehending the complexity of her feelings。
Ditmar had not apologized or feigned an altruism for which she would indeed
have despised him。 The ruthlessness of his laughthe laugh of the red…blooded
man who makes laws that he himself may be lawless shook her with a wild appeal。
〃What do I care about any othersI want you！〃 such was its message。 And
against this paradoxical wish to be conquered； intensified by the magnetic
field of his passion； battled her self…assertion； her pride； her innate desire
to be free； to escape now from a domination the thought of which filled her
with terror。 She felt his cheek brushing against her hair； his fingers
straying along her arm； for the moment she was hideously yet deliciously
powerless。 Then the emotion of terror conqueredterror of the unknownand
she sprang away； dropping her note…book and running to the window； where she
stood swaying。
〃Janet； you're killing me；〃 she heard him say。 〃For God's sake； why can't you
trust me？〃
She did not answer； but gazed out at the primrose lights beginning to twinkle
fantastically in the distant mills。 Presently she turned。 Ditmar was in his
chair。 She crossed the room to the electric switch； turning on