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〃country〃 had vanished。 The old flat piano； made in Philadelphia ages
ago； the horsehair chairs and sofa had been replaced by a nondescript
furniture of the sort displayed behind plate…glass windows of the city's
stores： rocking…chairs on stands； upholstered in clashing colours； their
coiled springs only half hidden by tassels； and 〃ornamental〃 electric
fixtures； instead of the polished coal…oil lamps。 Cousin Jenny had grown
white； Willie was a staid bachelor； Helen an old maid； while Mary had
married a tall； anaemic young man with glasses； Walter Kinley； whom
Cousin Robert had taken into the store。 As I contemplated the Brecks odd
questions suggested themselves： did honesty and warm…heartedness
necessarily accompany a lack of artistic taste？ and was virtue its own
reward； after all？ They drew my mother into the house； took off her
wraps； set her down in the most comfortable rocker； and insisted on
making her a cup of tea。
I was touched。 I loved them still； and yet I was conscious of
reservations concerning them。 They； too； seemed a little on the
defensive with me； and once in a while Mary was caustic in her remarks。
〃I guess nothing but New York will be good enough for Hugh now。 He'll be
taking Cousin Sarah away from us。〃
〃Not at all； my dear；〃 said my mother； gently； 〃he's going into Mr。
Watling's office next autumn。〃
〃Theodore Watling？〃 demanded Cousin Robert； pausing in his carving。
〃Yes； Robert。 Mr。 Watling has been good enough to say that he would like
to have Hugh。 Is there anything？〃
〃Oh； I'm out of date； Sarah；〃 Cousin Robert replied； vigorously severing
the leg of the turkey。 〃These modern lawyers are too smart for me。
Watling's no worse than the others； I suppose；only he's got more
ability。〃
〃I've never heard anything against him；〃 said my mother in a pained
voice。 〃Only the other day McAlery Willett congratulated me that Hugh
was going to be with him。〃
〃You mustn't mind Robert； Sarah；〃 put in Cousin Jenny；a remark
reminiscent of other days。
〃Dad has a notion that his generation is the only honest one；〃 said
Helen； laughingly； as she passed a plate。
I had gained a sense of superiority； and I was quite indifferent to
Cousin Robert's opinion of Mr。 Watling； of modern lawyers in general。
More than once a wave of self…congratulation surged through me that I had
possessed the foresight and initiative to get out of the wholesale
grocery business while there was yet time。 I looked at Willie； still
freckled； still literal； still a plodder； at Walter Kinley； and I thought
of the drabness of their lives； at Cousin Robert himself as he sat
smoking his cigar in the bay…window on that dark February day； and
suddenly I pitied him。 The suspicion struck me that he had not prospered
of late； and this deepened to a conviction as he talked。
〃The Republican Party is going to the dogs；〃 he asserted。
〃It used to be an honourable party； but now it is no better than the
other。 Politics are only conducted； now； for the purpose of making
unscrupulous men rich； sir。 For years I furnished this city with good
groceries； if I do say it myself。 I took a pride in the fact that the
inmates of the hospitals； yes； and the dependent poor in the city's
institutions； should have honest food。 You can get anything out of the
city if you are willing to pay the politicians for it。 I lost my city
contracts。 Why？ Because I refused to deal with scoundrels。 Weill and
Company and other unscrupulous upstarts are willing to do so； and poison
the poor and the sick with adulterated groceries！ The first thing I knew
was that the city auditor was holding back my bills for supplies； and
paying Weill's。 That's what politics and business； yes； sir； and the
law； have come to in these days。 If a man wants to succeed； he must turn
into a rascal。〃
I was not shocked； but I was silent； uncomfortable； wishing that it were
time to take the train back to the city。 Cousin Robert's face was more
worn than I had thought； and I contrasted him inevitably with the
forceful person who used to stand； in his worn alpaca coat； on the
pavement in front of his store； greeting with clear…eyed content his
fellow merchants of the city。 Willie Breck； too； was silent； and Walter
Kinley took off his glasses and wiped them。 In the meanwhile Helen had
left the group in which my mother sat； and； approaching us； laid her
hands on her father's shoulders。
〃Now； dad；〃 she said； in affectionate remonstrance； 〃you're excited about
politics again； and you know it isn't good for you。 And besides； they're
not worth it。〃
〃You're right； Helen；〃 he replied。 Under the pressure of her hands he
made a strong effort to control himself； and turned to address my mother
across the room。
〃I'm getting to be a crotchety old man；〃 he said。 〃It's a good thing I
have a daughter to remind me of it。〃
〃It is a good thing； Robert；〃 said my mother。
During the rest of our visit he seemed to have recovered something of his
former spirits and poise； taking refuge in the past。 They talked of
their own youth； of families whose houses had been landmarks on the
Second Bank。
〃I'm worried about your Cousin Robert； Hugh；〃 my mother confided to me；
when we were at length seated in the train。 〃I've heard rumours that
things are not so well at the store as they might be。〃 We looked out at
the winter landscape； so different from that one which had thrilled every
fibre of my being in the days when the railroad on which we travelled had
been a winding narrow gauge。 The orchardsthose that remainedwere
bare； stubble pricked the frozen ground where tassels had once waved in
the hot； summer wind。 We flew by row after row of ginger…bread； suburban
houses built on 〃villa plots；〃 and I read in large letters on a hideous
sign…board； 〃Woodbine Park。〃
〃Hugh； have you ever heard anything againstMr。 Watling？〃
〃No； mother；〃 I said。 〃So far as I knew； he is very much looked up to by
lawyers and business men。 He is counsel； I believe； for Mr。 Blackwood's
street car line on Boyne Street。 And I told you； I believe； that I met
him once at Mr。 Kyme's。〃
〃Poor Robert！〃 she sighed。 〃I suppose business trouble does make one
bitter；I've seen it so often。 But I never imagined that it would
overtake Robert； and at his time of life！ It is an old and respected
firm； and we have always had a pride in it。〃 。。。
That night； when I was going to bed； it was evident that the subject was
still in her mind。 She clung to my hand a moment。
〃I； too； am afraid of the new； Hugh；〃 she said； a little tremulously。
〃We all grow so； as age comes on。〃
〃But you are not old； mother；〃 I protested。
〃I have a feeling； since your father has gone； that I have lived my life；
my dear； though I'd like to stay long enough to see you happily married
to have grandchildren。 I was not young when you were born。〃 And she
added； after a little while； 〃I know nothing about business affairs； and
nownow that your father is no longer here； sometimes I'm afraid〃
〃Afraid of what； mother？〃
She tried to smile at me through her tears。 We were in the old sitting…
room； surrounded by the books。
〃I know it's fool