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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 justice without the help of the state；〃 remarked Antonelli
curtly； while a murmur of approval ran through the back of the hall。
That was scarcely the attitude； said the Chairman； he had expected。 He
knew that such a strike as this had engendered bitterness； there had been
much suffering； sacrifice undoubtedly on both sides； but he was sure； if
Mr。 Antonelli and the Committee would accept their services here he was
interrupted。
Had the mill owners accepted their services？
The Chairman cleared his throat。
The fact was that the mill owners were more difficult to get together in
a body。 A meeting would be arranged
〃When you arrange a meeting； let me know；〃 said Antonelli。
A laugh went around the room。 It was undoubtedly very difficult to keep
one's temper under such treatment。 The Chairman looked it。
〃A meeting would be arranged；〃 he declared； with a longsuffering
expression。 He even smiled a little。 〃In the meantime〃
〃What can your committee do？〃 demanded one of the strike leaders；
passionatelyit was Findley。 〃If you find one party wrong； can your
state force it to do right？ Can you legislators be impartial when you
have not lived the bitter life of the workers？ Would you arbitrate a
question of life and death？ And are the worst wages paid in these mills
anything short of death？ Do you investigate because conditions are bad？
or because the workers broke loose and struck？ Why did you not come
before the strike？〃
This drew more approval from the rear。 Why； indeed？ The Chairman was
adroit； he had pulled himself out of many tight places in the Assembly
Chamber； but now he began to perspire； to fumble in his coat tails for a
handkerchief。 The Legislature； he maintained； could not undertake to
investigate such matters until called to its attention。。。。
Later on a tall gentleman； whom heaven had not blessed with tact； saw fit
to deplore the violence that had occurred； he had no doubt the leaders of
the strike regretted it as much as he； he was confident it would be
stopped； when public opinion would be wholly and unreservedly on the side
of the strikers。
〃Public opinion！〃 savagely cried Lindtzki； who spoke English with only a
slight accent。 〃If your little boy； if your little girl come to you and
ask for shoes； for bread； and you say； ‘I have no shoes； I have no bread；
but public opinion is with us；' would that satisfy you？〃
This drew so much applause that the tall law…maker sat down again with a
look of disgust on his face。。。。 The Committee withdrew； and for many
weeks thereafter the state they represented continued to pay some four
thousand dollars daily to keep its soldiers on the streets of Hampton。。。。
In the meanwhile Janet saw much of Rolfe。 Owing to his facile command of
language he was peculiarly fitted to draft those proclamations；
bombastically worded in the French style； issued and circulated by the
Strike Committeeappeals to the polyglot army to withstand the pangs of
hunger； to hold out for the terms laid down； assurances that victory was
at hand。 Walking up and down the bibliottheque； his hands behind his
back； his red lips gleaming as he spoke； he dictated these documents to
Janet。 In the ecstasy of this composition he had a way of shaking his
head slowly from side to side； and when she looked up she saw his eyes
burning； down at her。 A dozen times a day； while she was at her other
work； he would come in and talk to her。 He excited her； she was divided
between attraction and fear of him； and often she resented his easy
assumption that a tie existed between themthe more so because this
seemed to be taken for granted among certain of his associates。 In their
eyes； apparently； she was Rolfe's recruit in more senses than one。 It
was indeed a strange society in which she found herself； and Rolfe
typified it。 He lived on the plane of the impulses and intellect；
discarded as inhibiting factors what are called moral standards； decried
individual discipline and restraint。 And while she had never considered
these things； the spectacle of a philosophyembodied in himtha