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did venture to expostulate with him on the risk he must be running in
serving out his term。 We were sitting in the dining room of his house。
〃We've only one life to live； Hugh；〃 he answered； smiling at me； 〃and we
might as well get all out of it we can。 A few years more or less doesn't
make much differenceand I ought to be satisfied。 I'd resign now； to
please my wife； to please my friends； but we can't trust this governor to
appoint a safe man。 How little we suspected when we elected him that
he'd become infected。 You never can tell； in these days； can you？〃
It was the note of devotion to his cause that I had come to hear： I felt
it renewing me； as I had hoped。 The threat of disease； the louder
clamourings of the leaders of the mob had not sufficed to dismay him
though he admitted more concern over these。 My sympathy and affection
were mingled with the admiration he never failed to inspire。
〃But you； Hugh；〃 he said concernedly； 〃you're not looking very well； my
son。 You must manage to take a good rest before coming herebefore the
campaign you'll have to go through。 We can't afford to have anything
happen to youyou're too young。〃
I wondered whether he had heard anything。。。。 He spoke to me again about
the work to be done； the work he looked to me to carry on。
〃We'll have to watch for our opportunity；〃 he said； 〃and when it comes we
can handle this new movement not by crushing it； but by guiding it。 I've
come to the conclusion that there is a true instinct in it； that there
are certain things we have done which have been mistakes； and which we
can't do any more。 But as for this theory that all wisdom resides in the
people； it's buncombe。 What we have to do is to work out a practical
programme。〃
His confidence in me had not diminished。 It helped to restore confidence
in myself。
The weather was cool and bracing for September； and as we drove in a
motor through the beautiful avenues of the city he pointed out a house
for me on one of the circles； one of those distinguished residences；
instances of a nascent good taste； that are helping to redeem the
polyglot aspect of our national capital。 Mr。 Watling spokerather
tactfully； I thoughtof Maude and the children； and ventured the surmise
that they would be returning in a few months。 I interpreted this；
indeed； as in rather the nature of a kindly hint that such a procedure
would be wise in view of the larger life now dawning for me； but I made
no comment。。。。 He even sympathized with Nancy Durrett。
〃She did the right thing； Hugh；〃 he said； with the admirable casual
manner he possessed of treating subjects which he knew to be delicate。
〃Nancy's a fine woman。 Poor devil！〃 This in reference to Ham。。。。
Mr。 Watling reassured me on the subject of his own trouble； maintaining
that he had many years left if he took care。 He drove me to the station。
I travelled homeward somewhat lifted out of myself by this visit to him；
with some feeling of spaciousness derived from Washington itself； with
its dignified Presidential Mansion among the trees； its granite shaft
drawing the eye upward； with its winged Capitol serene upon the hill。
Should we deliver these heirlooms to the mob？ Surely Democracy meant
more than that！
All this time I had been receiving； at intervals； letters from Maude and
the children。 Maude's were the letters of a friend； and I found it easy
to convince myself that their tone was genuine； that the separation had
brought contentment to her； and those independent and self…sufficient
elements in her character I admired now rather than deplored。 At
Etretat； which she found much to her taste； she was living quietly； but
making friends with some American and English； and one French family of
the same name； Buffon； as the great naturalist。 The father was a retired
silk manufacturer； they now resided in Paris； and had been very kind in
helping her to get an apartment in that city for the winter。 She had
chosen one on the Avenue Kleber； not far from the Arc。 It is
interesting； after her arraignment of me； that she should have taken such
pains to record their daily life for my benefit in her clear；
conscientious handwriting。 I beheld Biddy； her dresses tucked above slim
little knees； playing in the sand on the beach； her hair flying in the
wind and lighted by the sun which gave sparkle to the sea。 I saw Maude
herself in her beach chair； a book lying in her lap； its pages whipped by
the breeze。 And there was Moreton； who must be proving something of a
handful； since he had fought with the French boys on the beach and thrown
a 〃rock〃 through the windows of the Buffon family。 I remember one of his
lettersmade perfect after much correcting and scratching；in which he
denounced both France and the French； and appealed to me to come over at
once to take him home。 Maude had enclosed it without comment。 This
letter had not been written under duress； as most of his were。
Matthew's lettershe wrote faithfully once a weekI kept in a little
pile by themselves and sometimes reread them。 I wondered whether it were
because of the fact that I was his fatherthough a most inadequate one
that I thought them somewhat unusual。 He had learned FrenchMaude
wrotewith remarkable ease。 I was particularly struck in these letters
with the boy's power of observation； with his facile use of language；
with the vivid simplicity of his descriptions of the life around him； of
his experiences at school。 The letters were thoughtfulnot dashed off
in a hurry； they gave evidence in every line of the delicacy of feeling
that was； I think； his most appealing quality； and I put them down with
the impression strong on me that he； too； longed to return home； but
would not say so。 There was a certain pathos in this youthful restraint
that never failed to touch me； even in those times when I had been most
obsessed with love and passion。。。。 The curious effect of these letters
was that of knowing more than they expressed。 He missed me； he wished to
know when I was coming over。 And I was sometimes at a loss whether to be
grateful to Maude or troubled because she had as yet given him no hint of
our separation。 What effect would it have on him when it should be
revealed to him？。。。。 It was through Matthew I began to apprehend certain
elements in Maude I had both failed to note and appreciate； her little
mannerisms that jarred； her habits of thought that exasperated； were
forgotten； and I was forced to confess that there was something fine in
the achievement of this attitude of hers that was without ill will or
resentment； that tacitly acknowledged my continued rights and interest in
the children。 It puzzled and troubled me。
The Citizens Union began its campaign early that autumn； long before the
Hons。 Jonathan Parks and Timothy MacGuireRepublican and Democratic
candidates for Mayorthought of going on the stump。 For several weeks
the meetings were held in the small halls and club rooms of various
societies and orders in obscure portions of the city。
The forces of 〃privilege and corruption〃 were not much alarmed。 Perry
Blackwood accused the newspapers of having agreed to a 〃conspira