the american claimant-第17章

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castle　had　risen　before　him　without　rebuke。　　Even　the　plushed　flunkey；
that　walking　symbol　of　a　sham　inequality；　had　not　been　unpleasant　to　his
dreaming　view。　　After　the　meal　Barrow　said；

〃Come　with　me。　　I'll　give　you　a　jolly　evening。〃

〃Very　good。　　Where　are　you　going？〃

〃To　my　club。〃

〃What　club　is　that？〃

〃Mechanics'　Debating　Club。〃

Tracy　shuddered；　slightly。　　He　didn't　say　anything　about　having　visited
that　place　himself。　　Somehow　he　didn't　quite　relish　the　memory　of　that
time。　　The　sentiments　which　had　made　his　former　visit　there　so　enjoyable；
and　filled　him　with　such　enthusiasm；　had　undergone　a　gradual　change；　and
they　had　rotted　away　to　such　a　degree　that　he　couldn't　contemplate
another　visit　there　with　anything　strongly　resembling　delight。　　In　fact
he　was　a　little　ashamed　to　go；　he　didn't　want　to　go　there　and　find　out　by
the　rude　impact　of　the　thought　of　those　people　upon　his　reorganized
condition　of　mind；　how　sharp　the　change　had　been。　　He　would　have
preferred　to　stay　away。　　He　expected　that　now　he　should　hear　nothing
except　sentiments　which　would　be　a　reproach　to　him　in　his　changed　mental
attitude；　and　he　rather　wished　he　might　be　excused。　　And　yet　he　didn't
quite　want　to　say　that；　he　didn't　want　to　show　how　he　did　feel；　or　show
any　disinclination　to　go；　and　so　he　forced　himself　to　go　along　with
Barrow；　privately　purposing　to　take　an　early　opportunity　to　get　away。

After　the　essayist　of　the　evening　had　read　his　paper；　the　chairman
announced　that　the　debate　would　now　be　upon　the　subject　of　the　previous
meeting；　〃The　American　Press。〃　　It　saddened　the　backsliding　disciple　to
hear　this　announcement。　　It　brought　up　too　many　reminiscences。　　He　wished
he　had　happened　upon　some　other　subject。　　But　the　debate　began；　and　he
sat　still　and　listened。

In　the　course　of　the　discussion　one　of　the　speakersa　blacksmith　named
Tompkinsarraigned　all　monarchs　and　all　lords　in　the　earth　for　their
cold　selfishness　in　retaining　their　unearned　dignities。　　He　said　that　no
monarch　and　no　son　of　a　monarch；　no　lord　and　no　son　of　a　lord　ought　to　be
able　to　look　his　fellow　man　in　the　face　without　shame。　　Shame　for
consenting　to　keep　his　unearned　titles；　property；　and　privilegesat　the
expense　of　other　people；　shame　for　consenting　to　remain；　on　any　terms；　in
dishonourable　possession　of　these　things；　which　represented　bygone
robberies　and　wrongs　inflicted　upon　the　general　people　of　the　nation。
He　said；　〃if　there　were　a　laid　or　the　son　of　a　lord　here；　I　would　like　to
reason　with　him；　and　try　to　show　him　how　unfair　and　how　selfish　his
position　is。　　I　would　try　to　persuade　him　to　relinquish　it；　take　his
place　among　men　on　equal　terms；　earn　the　bread　he　eats；　and　hold　of
slight　value　all　deference　paid　him　because　of　artificial　position；　all
reverence　not　the　just　due　of　his　own　personal　merits。〃

Tracy　seemed　to　be　listening　to　utterances　of　his　own　made　in　talks　with
his　radical　friends　in　England。　　It　was　as　if　some　eavesdropping
phonograph　had　treasured　up　his　words　and　brought　them　across　the
Atlantic　to　accuse　him　with　them　in　the　hour　of　his　defection　and
retreat。　　Every　word　spoken　by　this　stranger　seemed　to　leave　a　blister　on
Tracy's　conscience；　and　by　the　time　the　speech　was　finished　he　felt　that
he　was　all　conscience　and　one　blister。　　This　man's　deep　compassion　for
the　enslaved　and　oppressed　millions　in　Europe　who　had　to　bear　with　the
contempt　of　that　small　class　above　them；　throned　upon　shining　heights
whose　paths　were　shut　against　them；　was　the　very　thing　he　had　often
uttered　himself。　　The　pity　in　this　man's　voice　and　words　was　the　very
twin　of　the　pity　that　used　to　reside　in　his　own　heart　and　come　from　his
own　lips　when　he　thought　of　these　oppressed　peoples。

The　homeward　tramp　was　accomplished　in　brooding　silence。　　It　was　a
silence　most　grateful　to　Tracy's　feelings。　　He　wouldn't　have　broken　it
for　anything；　for　he　was　ashamed　of　himself　all　the　way　through　to　his
spine。　　He　kept　saying　to　himself：

〃How　unanswerable　it　all　ishow　absolutely　unanswerable！　　It　is　basely；
degradingly　selfish　to　keep　those　；unearned　honors；　andandoh；　hang
it；　nobody　but　a　cur'

〃What　an　idiotic　damned　speech　that　Tompkins　made！

This　outburst　was　from　Barrow。　　It　flooded　Tracy's　demoralized　soul　with
waters　of　refreshment。　　These　were　the　darlingest　words　the　poor
vacillating　young　apostate　had　ever　heardfor　they　whitewashed　his　shame
for　him；　and　that　is　a　good　service　to　have　when　you　can't　get　the　best
of　all　verdicts；　self…acquittal。

〃Come　up　to　my　room　and　smoke　a　pipe；　Tracy。〃

Tracy　had　been　expecting　this　invitation；　and　had　had　his　declination　all
ready：　but　he　was　glad　enough　to　accept；　now。　　Was　it　possible　that　a
reasonable　argument　could　be　made　against　that　man's　desolating　speech？
He　was　burning　to　hear　Barrow　try　it。　　He　knew　how　to　start　him；　and　keep
him　going：　it　was　to　seem　to　combat　his　positionsa　process　effective
with　most　people。

〃What　is　it　you　object　to　in　Tompkins's　speech；　Barrow？〃

〃Oh；　the　leaving　out　of　the　factor　of　human　nature；　requiring　another　man
to　do　what　you　wouldn't　do　yourself。〃

〃Do　you　mean〃

〃Why　here's　what　I　mean；　it's　very　simple。　　Tompkins　is　a　blacksmith；　has
a　family；　works　for　wages；　and　hard；　toofooling　around　won't　furnish
the　bread。　　Suppose　it　should　turn　out　that　by　the　death　of　somebody　in
England　he　is　suddenly　an　earlincome；　half　a　million　dollars　a　year。
What　would　he　do？〃

〃Well；　II　suppose　he　would　have　to　decline　to〃

〃Man；　he　would　grab　it　in　a　second！〃

〃Do　you　really　think　he　would？〃

〃Think？I　don't　think　anything　about　it；　I　know　it。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　he's　not　a　fool。〃

〃So　you　think　that　if　he　were　a　fool；　he〃

〃No；　I　don't。　　Fool　or　no　fool；　he　would　grab　it。　　Anybody　would。
Anybody　that's　alive。　　And　I've　seen　dead　people　that　would　get　up　and　go
for　it。　　I　would　myself。〃

〃This　was　balm；　this　was　healing；　this　was　rest　and　peace　and　comfort。〃

〃But　I　thought　you　were　opposed　to　nobilities。〃

〃Transmissible　ones；　yes。　　But　that's　nothing。　　I'm　opposed　to
millionaires；　but　it　would　be　dangerous　to　offer　me　the　position。〃

〃You'd　take　it？〃

〃I　would　leave　the　funeral　of　my　dearest　enemy　to　go　and　assume　its
burdens　and　responsibilities。〃

Tracy　thought　a　while；　then　said：

〃I　don't　know　that　I　quite　get　the　bearings　of　your　position。　　You　say
you　are　opposed　to　hereditary　nobilities；　and　yet　if　you　had　the　chance
you　would〃

〃Take　one？　　In　a　minute　I　would。　　And　there　isn't　a　mechanic　in　that
entire　club　that　wouldn't。　　There　isn't　a　lawyer；　doctor；　editor；　author；
tinker；　loafer；　railroad　president；　saint…land；　there　isn't　a　human　being
in　the　United　States　that　wouldn't　jump　at　the　chance！〃

〃Except　me；〃　said　Tracy　softly。

〃Except　you！〃　　　Barrow　could　hardly　get　the　words　out；　his　scorn　so
choked　him。　　And　he　couldn't　get　any　further　than　that　form　of　words；
it　seemed　to　dam　his　flow；　utterly。　　He　got　up　and　came　and　glared　upon
Tracy　in　a　kind　of　outraged　and　unappeasable　way；　and　said　again；　〃Except
you！〃　　He　walked　around　himinspecting　him　from　one　point　of　view　and
then　another；　and　relieving　his　soul　now　and　then　by　exploding　that
formula　at　him；　〃Except　you！〃　　Finally　he　slumped　down　into　his　chair
with　the　air　of　one　who　gives　it　up；　and　said：

〃He's　straining　his　viscera　and　he's　breaking　his　heart　trying　to　get
some　low…down　job　that　a　good　dog　wouldn't　have；　and　yet　wants　to　let　on
that　if　he　had　a　chance　to　scoop　an　earldom　he　wouldn't　do　it。　　Tracy；
don't　put　this　kind　of　a　strain　on　me。　　Lately　I'm　not　as　strong　as　I
was。〃

〃Well；　I　wasn't　meaning　to　puta　strain　on　you；　Barrow；　I　was　only
meaning　to　intimate　that　if　an　earldom　ever　does　fall　in　my　way〃

〃ThereI　wouldn't　give　myself　any　worry　about　that；　if　I　was　you。　　And
besides；　I　can　settle　what　you　would　do。　　Are　you　any　different　from　me？〃

〃Wellno。〃

〃Are　you　any　better　than　me？〃

〃O；erwhy；　certainly　not。〃

〃Are　you　as　good？　　Come！〃

〃Indeed；　Ithe　fact　is　you　take　me　so　suddenly〃

〃Suddenly？　　What　is　there　sudden　about　it？　　It　isn't　a　difficult　question
is　it？　　Or　doubtful？　　Just　measure　us　on　the　only　fair　linesthe　lines
of　meritand　of　course　you'll　admit　that　a　journeyman　chairmaker　that
earns　his　twenty　dollars　a　week；　and　has　had　the　good　and　genuine　culture
of　contact　with　men；　and　care；　and　hardship；　and　failure；　and　success；
and　downs　and　ups　and　ups　and　downs；　is　just　a　trifle　the　superior　of　a
young　fellow　like　you；　who　doesn't　know　how　to　do　anything　that's
valuable；　can't　earn　his　living　in　any　secure　and　steady　way；　hasn't　had
any　experience　of　life　and　its　seriousness；　hasn't　any　culture　but　the
artificial　culture　of　books；　which　adorns　but　doesn't　really　educate…
come！　if　I　wouldn't　scorn　an　earldom；　what　the　devil　right　have　you　to　do
it！〃

Tracy　dissembled　his　joy；　though　he　wanted　to　thank　the　chair…maker　for
that　last　remark。　　Presently　a　thought　struck　him；　and　he　spoke　up
briskly　and　said：

〃But　look　here；　I　really　can't　quite　get　the　hang　of　your　notionsyour；
principles；　if　they　are　principles。　　You　are　inconsistent。　　You　are
opposed　to　aristocracies；　yet　you'd　take　an　earldom　if　you　could。　　Am　I
to　understand　that　you　don't　blame　an　earl　for　being　and　remaining　an
earl？〃

〃I　certainly　don't。〃

〃And　you　wouldn't　blame　Tompkins；　or　yourself；　or　me；　or　anybody；　for
accepting　an　earldom　if　it　was　offered？〃

〃Indeed　I　wouldn't。〃

〃Well；　then；　who　would　you　blame？〃

〃The　whole　nationany　bulk　and　mass　of　population　anywhere；　in　any
country；　that　will　put　up　with　the　infamy；　the　outrage；　the　insult　of　a
hereditary　aristocracy　which　they　can't　enterand　on　absolutely　free　and
equal　terms。〃

〃Come；　aren't　you　beclouding　yourself　with　distinctions　that　are　not
differences？〃

〃Indeed　I　am　not。　　I　am　entirely　clear…headed　about　this　thing。　　If　I
could　extirpate　an　aristocratic　system　by　declining　its　honors；　then　I
should　be　a　rascal　to　accept　them。　　And　if　enough　of　the　mass　would　join
me　to　make　the　extirpation　possible；　then　I　should　be　a　rascal　to　do
otherwise　than　help　in　the　attempt。〃

〃I　believe　I　understandyes；　I　think　I　get　the　idea。　　You　have　no　blame
for　the　lucky　few　who　naturally　decline　to　vacate　the　pleasant　nest　they
were　born　into；　you　only　despise　the　all…powerful　and　stupid　mass　of　the
nation　for　allowing　the　nest　to　exist。〃

〃That's　it；　that's　it！　　You　can　get　a　simple　thing　through　your　head　if
you　work　at　it　long　enough。〃

〃Thanks。〃

〃Don't　mention　it。　　And　I'll　give　you　some　sound　advice：　when　you　go
back；　if　you　find　your　nation　up　and　ready　to　abolish　that　hoary　affront；
lend　a　hand；　but　if　that　isn't　the　state　of　things　and　you　get　a　chance
at　an　earldom；　don't　you　be　a　foolyou　take　it。〃

Tracy　responded　with　earnestness　and　enthusiasm：

〃As　I　live；　I'll　do　it！〃

Barrow　laughed。

〃I　never　saw　such　a　fellow。　　I　begin　to　think　you've　got　a　good　deal　of
imagination。　　With　you；　the　idlest…fancy　freezes　into　a　reality　at　a
breath。　　Why；　you　looked；　then；　as　if　it　wouldn't　astonish　you　if　you　did
tumble　into　an　earldom。〃

Tracy　blushed。　　Barrow　added：　〃Earldom！　　Oh；　yes；　take　it；　if　it　offers；
but　meantime　we'll　go　on　looking　around；　in　a　modest　way；　and　if　you