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clothes always looked new； of pronounced patterns and light colours set aside
for him by an obsequious tailor in Boston。
If a human being in such an enviable position as that of agent of the
Chippering Mill can be regarded as property； it might be said that Mr。 Claude
Ditmar belonged to the Chipperings of Boston； a family still owning a
controlling interest in the company。 His loyalty to them and to the mill he so
ably conducted was the great loyalty of his life。 For Ditmar； a Chippering
could do no wrong。 It had been the keen eye of Mr。 Stephen Chippering that
first had marked him； questioned him； recognized his ability； and from the
moment of that encounter his advance had been rapid。 When old Stephen had been
called to his fathers； Ditmar's allegiance was automatically； as it were；
transferred to the two sons； George and Worthington； already members of the
board of directors。 Sometimes Ditmar called on them at their homes； which
stood overlooking the waters of the Charles River Basin。 The attitude toward
him of the Chipperings and their wives was one of an interesting adjustment of
feudalism to democracy。 They were fond of him； grateful to him； treating him
with a frank camaraderie that had in it not the slightest touch of
condescension； but Ditmar would have been the first to recognize that there
were limits to the intimacy。 They did not； for instanceno doubt out of
considerationinvite him to their dinner parties or take him to their club；
which was not the same as that to which he himself belonged。 He felt no
animus。 Nor would he； surprising though it may seem； have changed places with
the Chipperings。 At an early age； and quite unconsciously； he had accepted
property as the ruling power of the universe； and when family was added thereto
the combination was nothing less than divine。
There were times； especially during the long winters； when life became almost
unbearable for Janet； and she was seized by a desire to run away from Fillmore
Street； from the mills； from Hampton itself。 Only she did not know where to
go； or how to get away。 She was convinced of the existence in the world of
delightful spots where might be found congenial people with whom it would be a
joy to talk。 Fillmore Street； certainly； did not contain any such。 The office
was not so bad。 It is true that in the mornings； as she entered West Street；
the sight of the dark facade of the fortress…like structure； emblematic of the
captivity in which she passed her days； rarely failed to arouse in her
sensations of oppression and revolt； but here； at least； she discovered an
outlet for her energies； she was often too busy to reflect； and at odd moments
she could find a certain solace and companionship in the river； so intent； so
purposeful； so beautiful； so undisturbed by the inconcinnity； the clatter and
confusion of Hampton as it flowed serenely under the bridges and between the
mills toward the sea。 Toward the sea！
It was when； at night； she went back to Fillmore Streetwhen she thought of
the monotony； yes； and the sordidness of home； when she let herself in at the
door and climbed the dark and narrow stairway； that her feet grew leaden。 In
spite of the fact that Hannah was a good housekeeper and prided herself on
cleanliness； the tiny flat reeked with the smell of cooking； and Janet； from
the upper hall； had a glimpse of a thin； angular woman with a scrawny neck；
with scant grey hair tightly drawn into a knot； in a gingham apron covering an
old dress bending over the kitchen stove。 And occasionally； despite a
resentment that fate should have dealt thus inconsiderately with the family；
Janet felt pity welling within her。 After supper； when Lise had departed with
her best young man； Hannah would occasionally； though grudgingly； permit Janet
to help her with the dishes。
〃You work all day； you have a right to rest。〃
〃But I don't want to rest；〃 Janet would declare； and rub the dishes the harder。
With the spirit underlying this protest； Hannah sympathized。 Mother and
daughter were alike in that both were inarticulate； but Janet had a secret
contempt for Hannah's uncomplaining stoicism。 She loved her mother； in a way；
especially at certain times；though she often wondered why she was unable to
realize more fully the filial affection of tradition； but in moments of
softening； such as these； she was filled with rage at the thought of any woman
endowed with energy permitting herself to be overtaken and overwhelmed by such
a fate as Hannah's： divorce； desertion； anything； she thought； would have been
betteranything but to be cheated out of life。 Feeling the fires of rebellion
burning hotly within her；rebellion against environment and driving necessity
she would glance at her mother and ask herself whether it were possible that
Hannah had ever known longings； had ever been wrung by inexpressible desires；
desires in which the undiscovered spiritual was so alarmingly compounded with
the undiscovered physical。 She would have died rather than speak to Hannah of
these unfulfilled experiences； and the mere thought of confiding them to any
person appalled her。 Even if there existed some wonderful； understanding being
to whom she might be able thus to empty her soul； the thought of the ecstasy of
that kenosis was too troubling to be dwelt upon。
She had tried reading； with unfortunate results；perhaps because no Virgil had
as yet appeared to guide her through the mysteries of that realm。 Her
schooling had failed to instil into her a discriminating taste for literature；
and when； on occasions； she had entered the Public Library opposite the Common
it had been to stare hopelessly at rows of books whose authors and titles
offered no clue to their contents。 Her few choices had not been happy； they
had failed to interest and thrill。。。
Of the Bumpus family Lise alone found refuge； distraction； and excitement in
the vulgar modern world by which they were surrounded； and of whose
heedlessness and remorselessness they were the victims。 Lise went out into it；
became a part of it； returning only to sleep and eat；a tendency Hannah found
unaccountable； and against which even her stoicism was not wholly proof。
Scarce an evening went by without an expression of uneasiness from Hannah。
〃She didn't happen to mention where she was going； did she； Janet？〃 Hannah
would query； when she had finished her work and put on her spectacles to read
the Banner。
〃To the movies； I suppose；〃 Janet would reply。 Although well aware that her
sister indulged in other distractions； she thought it useless to add to
Hannah's disquietude。 And if she had little patience with Lise； she had less
with the helpless attitude of her parents。
〃Well；〃 Hannah would add； 〃I never can get used to her going out nights the way
she does； and with young men and women I don't know anything about。 I wasn't
brought up that way。 But as long as she's got to work for a living I guess
there's no help for it。〃
And she would glance at Edward。 It was obviously due to his inability
adequately to cope with modern conditions that his daughters were forced to
toil； but this was the nearest she ever came to reproaching him。 If he heard；
he acquiesced humbly； and in silence： more often than not he was oblivious；
buried in the mazes of the Bumpus family history； his papers spread out on the
red cloth of the dining…room table； under the lamp。 Sometimes in his
simplicity and with the enthusiasm that demands listeners he would read aloud
to them a letter； recently received from a distant kinsman； an Alpheus Bumpus；
let us say； who had migrated to California in search of wealth and fame； and
who had found neither。 In spite of age and misfortunes； the liberal attitude
of these western members of the family was always a matter of perplexity to
Edward。
〃He tells me they're going to give women the ballot；doesn't appear to be much
concerned about his own womenfolks going to the polls。〃
〃Why shouldn't they； if they want to？〃 Janet would exclaim； though she had
given little thought to the question。
Edward would mildly ignore this challenge。
〃He has a house on what they call Russian Hill； and he can watch the vessels as
they come in from Japan；〃 he would continue in his precise voice； emphasizing
admirably the last syllables of the words 〃Russian；〃 〃vessels；〃 and 〃Japan。〃
〃Wouldn't you like to see the letter？〃
To do Hannah justice； although she was quite incapable of sharing his passion；
she frequently feigned an interest； took the letter； presently handing it on to
Janet who； in deciphering Alpheus's trembling calligraphy； pondered over his
manifold woes。 Alpheus's son； who had had a good position in a sporting goods
establishment on Market Street； was sick and in danger of losing it； the son's
wife expecting an addition to the family； the house on Russian Hill mortgaged。
Alpheus； a veteran of the Civil War； had been for many years preparing his
reminiscences； but the newspapers nowadays seemed to care nothing for matters
of solid worth； and so far had refused to publish them。。。。 Janet； as she read；
reflected that these letters invariably had to relate tales of failures； of
disapp