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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 himthat
frankly and cynically threw them overboard was disconcerting。 He
regarded her as his proselyte； he called her a Puritan； and he seemed
more concerned that she should shed these relics of an ancestral code
than acquire the doctrines of Sorel and Pouget。 And yet association with
him presented the allurement of a dangerous adventure。 Intellectually he
fascinated her； and still another motivewhich she partially disguised
from herselfprevented her from repelling him。 That motive had to do
with Ditmar。 She tried to put Ditmar from her mind； she sought in
desperation； not only to keep busy； but to steep and lose herself in this
fierce creed as an antidote to the insistent； throbbing pain that lay
ambushed against her moments of idleness。 The second evening of her
installation at Headquarters she had worked beyond the supper hour；
helping Sanders with his accounts。 She was loath to go home。 And when
at last she put on her hat and coat and entered the hall Rolfe； who had
been talking to