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Janet's exclamation。 〃More than half of modern culture depends on what
one shouldn't read。〃
Mrs。 Maturin laughed。 But Insall waved his hand deprecatingly。
〃That isn't my own；〃 he confessed。 〃I cribbed it from a clever
Englishman。 But I believe it's true。〃
〃I think I'll adopt her；〃 said Mrs。 Maturin to Insall； when she had
repeated to him the conversation。 〃I know you are always convicting me
of enthusiasms； Brooks； and I suppose I do get enthusiastic。〃
〃Well； you adopt herand I'll marry her；〃 replied Insall； with a smile；
as he cut the string from the last bundle of clothing。
〃You might do worse。 It would be a joke if you did！〃
His friend paused to consider this preposterous possibility。 〃One never
can tell whom a man like you； an artist； will marry。〃
〃We've no business to marry at all；〃 said Insall； laughing。 〃I often
wonder where that romantic streak will land you； Augusta。 But you do
have a delightful time！〃
〃Don't begrudge it me； it makes life so much more interesting；〃 Mrs。
Maturin begged； returning his smile。 〃I haven't the faintest idea that
you will marry her or any one else。 But I insist on saying she's your
typeshe's the kind of a person artists do dig up and marryonly better
than most of them； far better。〃
〃Dig up？〃 said Insall。
〃Well； you know I'm not a snobI only mean that she seems to be one of
the surprising anomalies that sometimes occur inwhat shall I say？in
the working…classes。 I do feel like a snob when I say that。 But what is
it？ Where does that spark come from？ Is it in our modern air； that
discontent； that desire； that thrusting forth toward a new light
something as yet unformulated； but which we all feel； even at small
institutions of learning like Silliston？〃
〃Now you're getting beyond me。〃
〃Oh no； I'm not；〃 Mrs。 Maturin retorted confidently。 〃If you won't talk
about it； I will； I have no shame。 And this girl has itthis thing I'm
trying to express。 She's modern to her finger tips； and yet she's
extraordinarily Americanin spite of her modernity； she embodies in some
queer way our tradition。 She loves our old houses at Sillistonthey
make her feel at homethat's her own expression。〃
〃Did she say that？〃
〃Exactly。 And I know she's of New England ancestry； she told me so。
What I can't make out is； why she joined the I。W。W。 That seems so
contradictory。〃
〃Perhaps she was searching for light there；〃 Insall hazarded。 〃Why don't
you ask her？〃
〃I don't know；〃 replied Mrs。 Maturin； thoughtfully。 〃I want to； my
curiosity almost burns me alive； and yet I don't。 She isn't the kind you
can ask personal questions ofthat's part of her charm； part of her
individuality。 One is a little afraid to intrude。 And yet she keeps
coming hereof course you are a sufficient attraction； Brooks。 But I
must give her the credit of not flirting with you。〃
〃I've noticed that； too；〃 said Insall； comically。
〃She's searching for light；〃 Mrs。 Maturin went on； struck by the phrase。
〃She has an instinct we can give it to her； because we come from an
institution of learning。 I felt something of the kind when I suggested
her establishing herself in Silliston。 Well； she's more than worth while
experimenting on； she must have lived and breathed what you call the
‘movie atmosphere' all her life； and yet she never seems to have read and
absorbed any sentimental literature or cheap religion。 She doesn't
suggest the tawdry。 That part of her； the intellectual part； is a clear
page to be written upon。〃
〃There's my chance；〃 said Insall。
〃No； it's my chancesince you're so cynical。〃
〃I'm not cynical；〃 he protested。
〃I don't believe you really are。 And if you are； there may be a judgment
upon you；〃 she added playfully。 〃I tell you she's the kind of woman
artists go mad about。 She has what sentimentalists call temperament； and
after all we haven't any better word to express dynamic desires。 She'd
keep you stirred up； stimulated； and you could educate her。〃
〃No； thanks； I'll leave that to you。 He who educates a woman is lost。
But how about Syndicalism and all the mysticism that goes with it？
There's an intellectual over at Headquarters who's been talking to her
about Bergson； the life…force； and the World…We…Ourselves…Create。〃
Mrs。 Maturin laughed。
〃Well； we go wrong when we don't go right。 That's just it； we must go
some way。 And I'm sure； from what I gather； that she isn't wholly
satisfied with Syndicalism。〃
〃What is right？〃 demanded Insall。
〃Oh； I don't intend to turn her over to Mr。 Worrall and make a
sociologist and a militant suffragette out of her。 She isn't that kind；
anyhow。 But I could give her good literature to readyours； for
instance；〃 she added maliciously。
〃You're preposterous； Augusta；〃 Insall exclaimed。
〃I may be； but you've got to indulge me。 I've taken this fancy to her
of course I mean to see more of her。 Butyou know how hard it is for
me； sometimes； since I've been left alone。〃
Insall laid his hand affectionately on her shoulder。
〃I remember what you said the first day I saw her； that the strike was in
her；〃 Mrs。 Maturin continued。 〃Well； I see now that she does express and
typify itand I don't mean the ‘labour movement' alone； or this strike
in Rampton； which is symptomatic； but crude。 I mean something bigger
and I suppose you dothe protest； the revolt； the struggle for self…
realization that is beginning to be felt all over the nation； all over
the world today； that is not yet focussed and self…conscious； but groping
its way； clothing itself in any philosophy that seems to fit it。 I can
imagine myself how such a strike as this might appeal to a girl with a
sense of rebellion against sordidness and lack of opportunityespecially
if she has had a tragic experience。 And sometimes I suspect she has had
one。〃
〃Well； it's an interesting theory；〃 Insall admitted indulgently。
〃I'm merely amplifying your suggestions； only。 you won't admit that they
are yours。 And she was your protegee。〃 〃And you are going to take her
off my hands。〃 〃I'm not so sure；〃 said Mrs。 Maturin。
CHAPTER XIX
The Hampton strike had reached the state of grim deadlock characteristic
of all stubborn wars。 There were aggressions； retaliations on both
sides； the antagonism grew more intense。 The older labour unions were
accused by the strikers of playing the employers' game； and thus grew to
be hated even more than the 〃capitalists。〃 These organizations of the
skilled had entered but half…heartedly into a struggle that now began to
threaten； indeed； their very existence； and when it was charged that the
Textile Workers had been attempting to secure recruits from the ranks of
the strikers； and had secretly offered the millowners a scale of demands
in the hope that a sufficient number of operatives would return to work；
and so break the strike； a serious riot was barely averted。 〃Scab…huntmg
agencies；〃 the unions were called。 One morning when it was learned that
the loom…fixers； almost to a man； had gone back to the mills； a streetcar
was stopped near the power house at the end of Faber Street； and in a
twinkling； before the militia or police could interfere； motorman；
conductor； and passengers were dragged from it and the trolley pole
removed。 This and a number of similar aggressive acts aroused the mill…
owners and their agents to appeal with renewed vigour to the public
through the newspapers； which it was claimed they owned or subsidized。
Then followed a series of arraignments of the strike leaders calculated
to stir the wildest prejudices and fears of the citizens of Hampton。
Antonelli and Jastroso rumour had itin various nightly speeches had
advised their followers to 〃sleep in the daytime and prowl like wild
animals at night〃； urged the power house employees to desert and leave
the city in darkness； made the declaration； 〃We will win if we raise
scaffolds on every street！〃 insisted that the strikers； too； should have
〃gun permits；〃 since the police hirelings carried arms。 And the fact
that the mill…owners replied with pamphlets whose object was proclaimed
to be one of discrediting their leaders in the eyes of the public still
further infuriated the strikers。 Such charges； of course； had to be
vehemently refuted； the motives behind them made clear； and counter…
accusations laid at the door of the mill…owners。
The atmosphere at Headquarters daily grew more tense。 At any moment the
spark might be supplied to precipitate an explosion that would shake the
earth。 The hungry； made more desperate by their own sufferings or the
spectacle of starving families； were increasingly difficult to control：
many wished to return to work； others clamoured for violence； nor were
these wholly discouraged by a portion of the leaders。 A riot seemed
imminenta riot Antonelli feared and firmly opposed； since it would
alienate the sympathy of that wider public in the country on which the
success of the strike depended。 Watchful； yet apparently unconcerned；
unmoved by the quarrels； the fierce demands for 〃action；〃 he sat on the
little stage； smoking his cigars and reading his newspapers。
Janet's nerves were taut。 There had been times du