第5章

“Idon\'tthinkherealizeshowdangerousyouare，“shereplied，avoidingtheissue。“ThelasttimeIsawyou，youwereactuallytryingtothrowafatmanoutofyourwindow。Whataviolentlifeyoulead，Mr。Vane。I

hopeyouhaven\'tshotanymorepeople——“

“Isawyou，“hesaid。

“Isthatthewayyouspendyourtimeinofficehours，——throwingpeopleoutofthewindows？“

“ItwasonlyTomGaylord。“

“He\'sthemanMr。Jenneysaidwantedyoutobeasenator，isn\'the？“sheasked。

“Youhaveagoodmemory，“heansweredher。“Yes。That\'sthereasonI

triedtothrowhimoutofthewindow。“

“Whydidn\'tyoubeasenator？“sheaskedabruptly。“Ialwaysthinkofyouinpubliclife。Whywasteyouropportunities？“

“I\'mnotatallsurethatwasanopportunity。ItwasonlysomeofTom\'snonsense。Ishouldhavehadallthepoliticiansinthedistrictagainstme。“

“Butyouaren\'tthekindofmanwhowouldcareaboutthepoliticians，surely。IfHumphreyCrewecangetelectedbythepeople，Ishouldthinkyoumight。“

“Ican\'taffordtogivegarden-partiesandbuylemonade，“saidAusten，andtheybothlaughed。HedidnotthinkitworthwhilementioningMr。

Braden。

“SometimesIthinkyouhaven\'taparticleofambition，“shesaid。“I

likemenwithambition。“

“Ishalltrytocultivateit，“saidAusten。

“Youseemtobepopularenough。“

“Mostworthlesspeoplearepopular，becausetheydon\'ttreadonanybody\'stoes。“

“Worthlesspeopledon\'ttakeuppoorpeople\'ssuits，andwinthem，“shesaid。“IsawZebMeadertheotherday，andhesaidyoucouldbePresidentoftheUnitedStates。“

“ZebmeantthatIwaseligible——havingbeenborninthiscountry，“saidAusten。“Butwheredidyouseehim？“

“I——Iwenttoseehim。“

“AllthewaytoMercer？“

“Itisn\'tsofarinanautomobile，“shereplied，asthoughinexcuse，andadded，stillmorelamely，“ZebandIbecamegreatfriends，youknow，inthehospital。“

Hedidnotanswer，butwonderedthemoreatthesimplicityandkindnessinonebroughtupasshehadbeenwhichpromptedhertotakethetroubletoseethehumblestofherfriends:nay，totakethetroubletohavehumblefriends。

Theroadwoundalongaridge，andatintervalswasspreadbeforethemthefullgloryoftheSeptembersunset，——themountainsofthewestinblue-

blacksilhouetteagainstthesaffronsky，themyriaddappledclouds，thecrimsonfadingfromthestillreachesoftheriver，andthewine-colourfromtheeasternhills。Bothweresilentunderthespell，butayearningarosewithinhimwhenheglancedatthesunsetglowonherface:wouldsunsetshereafterbringsadness？

Histhoughtsranriotasthelightfadedinthewest。Herswerenotrevealed。Andthesilencebetweenthemseemedgraduallytogrowintoapact，tobecomeasubtlerandmoreintimateelementthanspeech。Afainttangofautumnsmokewasintheair，awhitemistcreptalongtherunningwaters，asilvermoonlikeanew-stampedcoinrodetriumphantinthesky，impatienttoproclaimherglory；andtheshadowsundertheghost-likesentineltreesinthepasturesgrewblacker。AtlastVictorialookedathim。

“YouaretheonlymanIknowwhodoesn\'tinsistontalking，“shesaid。

Therearetimeswhen——“

“Whenthereisnothingtosay，“hesuggested。

Shelaughedsoftly。Hetriedtorememberthesoundofitafterwards，whenherehearsedthisphaseoftheconversation，butcouldn\'t。

“It\'sbecauseyoulikethehills，isn\'tit？“sheasked。“Youseemsuchanout-of-doorperson，andMr。Jenneysaidyouwerealwayswanderingaboutthecountry-side。“

“Mr。Jenneyalsomadeotherreflectionsaboutmyyouth，“saidAusten。

Shelaughedagain，acquiescinginhishumour，secretlythankfulnottofindhimsentimental。

“Mr。Jenneysaidsomethingelsethat——thatIwantedtoaskyouabout，“

shewenton，breathingmoredeeply。“Itwasabouttherailroad。“

“Iamafraidyouhavenotcometoanauthority，“hereplied。

“YousaidthepoliticianswouldbeagainstyouifyoutriedtobecomeaStatesenator。Doyoubelievethatthepoliticiansareownedbytherailroad？“

“HasJenneybeenputtingsuchthingsintoyourhead？“

“NotonlyMr。Jenney，but——Ihaveheardotherpeoplesaythat。AndHumphreyCrewesaidthatyouhadn\'tachancepolitically，becauseyouhadopposedtherailroadandhadgoneagainstyourowninterests。“

Austenwasamazedatthisnewexhibitionofcourageonherpart，thoughhewassorelypressed。

“HumphreyCreweisn\'tmuchofanauthority，either，“hesaidbriefly。

“Thenyouwon\'ttellme？“saidVictoria。“Oh，Mr。Vane，“shecried，withsuddenvehemence，“ifsuchthingsaregoingonhere，I\'msuremyfatherdoesn\'tknowaboutthem。ThisisonlyoneState，andtherailroadrunsthroughsomany。Hecan\'tknoweverything，andIhaveheardhimsaythathewasn\'tresponsibleforwhatthepoliticiansdidinhisname。Iftheyarebad，whydon\'tyougotohimandtellhimso？I\'msurehe\'dlistentoyou。“

“I\'msurehe\'dthinkmeapresumptuousidiot，“saidAusten。“Politiciansarenotidealistsanywhere——theverywordhasbecomeatermofreproach。

Undoubtedlyyourfatherdesirestosetthingsrightasmuchasanyoneelse——probablymorethananyone。“

“Oh，Iknowhedoes，“exclaimedVictoria。

“Ifpoliticsarenotallthattheyshouldbe，“hewenton，somewhatgrimly，withanunpleasantfeelingofhypocrisy，“wemustrememberthattheyarenobody\'sfaultinparticular，andcan\'tbesetrightinaninstantbyanyoneman，nomatterhowpowerful。“

Sheturnedherfacetohimgratefully，buthedidnotmeetherlook。

TheywereonthedrivewayofFairview。

“Isupposeyouthinkmeverysillyforaskingsuchquestions，“shesaid。

“No，“heansweredgravely，“butpoliticsaresointricateasubjectthattheyareoftennotunderstoodbythosewhoareinthemidstofthem。I

admire——Ithinkitisveryfineinyoutowanttoknow。“

“Youarenotoneofthemenwhowouldnotwishawomantoknow，areyou？“

“No，“hesaid，“no，I\'mnot。“

Thenoteofpaininhisvoicesurprisedandtroubledher。Theywerealmostinsightofthehouse。

“IaskedyoutocometoFairview，“shesaid，assumingalightnessoftone，“andyouneverappeared。Ithoughtitwashorridofyoutoforget，afterwe\'dbeensuchfriends。“

“Ididn\'tforget，“repliedAusten。

“Thenyoudidn\'twanttocome。“

Helookedintohereyes，andshedroppedthem。

“Youwillhavetobethebestjudgeofthat，“hesaid。

“ButwhatamItothink？“shepersisted。

“Thinkthebestofmeyoucan，“heanswered，astheydrewuponthegravelbeforetheopendoorofFairviewhouse。Amanwasstandinginthemoonlightontheporch。

“Isthatyou，Victoria？“

“Yes，father。“

“Iwasgettingworried，“saidMr。Flint，comingdownonthedriveway。

“I\'mallright，“shesaid，leapingoutofthebuggy，“Mr。Vanebroughtmehome。“

“Howareyou，Hilary？“saidMr。Flint。

“I\'mAustenVane，Mr。Flint，“saidAusten。

“Howareyou？“saidMr。Flint，ascurtlyasthebarestpolitenessallowed。“Whatwasthematterwithyourownhorse，Victoria？“

“Nothing，“shereplied，afteraninstant\'spause。Austenwonderedmanytimeswhetherherlipshadtrembled。“Mr。Vaneaskedmetodrivewithhim，andIcame。Won\'t——won\'tyoucomein，Mr。Vane？“

“No，thanks，“saidAusten，“I\'mafraidIhavetogobacktoRipton。“

“Good-by，andthankyou，“shesaid，andgavehimherhand。Ashepressedit，hethoughthefelttheslightestpressureinreturn，andthenshefledupthesteps。Ashedroveaway，heturnedoncetolookatthegreathouse，withitsshadescloselydrawn，asitstoodamidstitssettingofshrubberysilentunderthemoon。

AnhourlaterhesatinHanoverStreetbeforethesupperEuphrasiahadsavedforhim。Butthoughhetriednobly，hisheartwasnotintherelation，forherbenefit，ofMr。Crewe\'sgarden-party。

CHAPTERIX

Mr。CREWEASSAULTSTHECAPITAL

Thoseportionsofthebiographiesofgreatmenwhichdealwiththesmallbeginningsofcareersarealwayseagerlydevoured，andforthisreasonthehumbleentryofMr。Creweintopoliticsmaybeofinterest。Greatrevolutionshavehadtheiroriginsinbackcellars；greatbuildersofrailroadshavebegunlifewithpacksontheirshoulders，trudgingoverthewildernesswhichtheyweretotraverseinafteryearsinprivatecars。ThehistoryofNapoleonBonapartehasnotaSunday-schoolmoral，butwecantracethereintheresultsofindustryafterthefutureemperorgotstarted。Industry，andthemotto“nildesperandum“livedupto，andthewatchword“thorough，“andatorchofunsuspectedgenius，and“l\'audace，toujoursl\'audace，“andamanmaygofarinlife。

Mr。HumphreyCrewepossessed，asmayhavebeensurmised，adashofallthesegifts。Forasummaryofhischaracteronewouldnothaveusedthephrase(asacontemporaryofhisremarked)of“ashrinkingviolet。“Thephrase，afterall，wouldhavefittedveryfewgreatmen；geniusissureofitself，andseeksitspeers。

TheStatecapitalisanoldandbeautifulandsomewhatconservativetown。

Lifetherehasitsjoysandsorrowsandpassions，itsambitions，andheart-burnings，tobesure；amostabsorbingnovelcouldbewrittenaboutit，andtheauthorneednotgobeyondthecitylimitsorapproachthestate-houseorthePelicanHotel。Thecasualvisitorinthatcapitalleavesitwithasenseofpeace，theechoofchurchbellsinhisear，and(ifinwinter)theimpressionofdazzlingsnow。Comediesdonotnecessarilyrequireawidestage，nortragediesanamphitheatrefortheirenactment。

Nocasualvisitor，forinstance，wouldhavesuspectedfromthefacesorremarksoftheinhabitantswhomhechancedtomeetthattherewasexcitementinthecapitalovertheprospectivearrivalofMr。HumphreyCreweforthelegislativesessionthatwinter。Legislativesessions，beitknown，nolongertookplaceinthesummer，agreatrelieftoMr。Creweandtofarmersingeneral，whowishedtobeathomeinhayingtime。

Thecapitalaboundedincomfortablehomesandboastednotadwellingsoflargerpretensions。ChiefamongthesewastheDuncanhouse——stillsocalled，althoughMr。Duncan，whobuiltit，hadbeendeadthesefifteenyears，andhisdaughterandheiress，Janet，hadmarriedanItalianMarquisandlivedinaRomanpalace，rehabilitatedbytheDuncanmoney。

Mr。Duncan，itmayberecalledbysomereadersof“Coniston，“hadbeenanotablemaninhisday，whohadmarriedtheheiressoftheState，andwaspresidentoftheCentralRailroad，nowabsorbedintheUnitedNortheastern。Thehousewasagreatsquareofbrick，withawidecornice，surroundedbyashadedlawn；solidlybuilt，inthefashionofthedayswhenrichpeoplestayedathome，withaconservatoryandalibrarythathadoncebeenMr。Duncan\'spride。TheMarchesacaredverylittleaboutthelibrary，oraboutthehouse，forthatmatter；agreatauntanduncle，spinsterandbachelor，werelivinginitthatwinter，andtheyvacatedforMr。Crewe。HetravelledtothecapitalonthelegislativepasstheNortheasternRailroadshadsokindlygivenhim，andbroughtdownhishorsesandhissecretaryandservantsfromLeithafewdaysbeforethefirstofJanuary，whenthesessionwastoopen，andlaidouthisbillsforthebettermentoftheStateonthatlibrarytablewhereMr。Duncanhadlovinglythumbedhisfolios。Mr。Crewe，withcharacteristicpromptitude，sethissecretarytoworktomakealistofthepersonsofinfluenceinthetown，preparatorytoaseriesofdinner-

parties；hedroppedintotheofficeofMr。Ridout，thecounseloftheNortheasternandoftheWinonaCorporationinthecapital，topayhisrespectsasamanofaffairs，andincidentallytoleavecopiesofhisbillsfortheimprovementoftheState。Mr。Ridoutwaspolitelyinterested，andpromisedtoreadthebills，andagreedthattheyoughttopass。

Mr。CrewealsoexaminedthePelicanHotel，sosoontobeahive，andstoodbetweenthesnow-banksinthecapitalparkcontemplatingthestatueofthegreatstatesmanthere，andrepeatingtohimselfthequotationinscribedbeneath。“ThePeople\'sGovernment，madeforthePeople，madebythePeople，andanswerabletothePeople。“Andhewondered，idly，——

forthedaywasnotcold，——howhewouldlookuponapedestalwiththeGladstonecollarandtheroughwoollencoatthatwouldlendthemselvessoreadilytoreproductioninmarble。Strangerthingshadhappened，andgratefulStateshadbeenknowntorewardbenefactors。

Atlengthcomesthegalanightofnights，——thelastoftheoldyear，——andtheassemblingofthefivehundredlegislatorsandofthearmythatiswonttoattendthem。Theafternoontrains，steaminghot，arecrowdedtothedoors，thestationasceneofanimation，andMainStreet，dazzlinginsnow，isalivewithastreamofmen，witheddieshereandthereatthecurbsandintheentries。Whathandshaking，andlookingoverofnewfaces，andwalkingroundandround！Whatsightseeingbythecountrymembersandtheirwiveswhohavecometoattendtheinaugurationofthenewgovernor，theHonourableAsaP。Gray！Thereheis，withthewhiskersandthetallhatandthecomfortableface，whichwearsalreadyalookofgubernatorialdignityandpower。HestandsforamomentinthelobbyofthePelicanHotel，——throngednowtosuffocation，——toshakehandsgeniallywithnewfriends，whoareledupbyoldfriendswithtwofingersontheelbow。Theoldfriendscrackjokesandwhisperintheearofthegovernor-to-be，whopresentlygoesupstairs，accompaniedbytheHonourableHilaryVane，tothebridalsuite，whichisreservedforhim，andwhichhasfire-proofcarpetonthefloor。TheHonourableHilaryhasaroomnextdoor，connectingwiththenewgovernor\'sbyfoldingdoors，butthisfactisnotgenerallyknowntocountrymembers。Onlyoldtimers，likeBijahBixbyandJobBraden，knowthattheHonourableHilary\'sroomcorrespondstoonewhichintheoldPelicanwascalledtheThroneRoom，NumberSeven，whereJethroBasssatintheolddaysandwatchedunceasinglythegroupsinthestreetfromthewindow。

ButJethroBasshasbeendeadthesetwentyyears，andhislieutenantsshornofpower。Anempirehasarisenoutoftheashesoftheancientkingdoms。BijahandJobareold，all-powerfulstillinClovellyandLeith——influentialstillintheirownestimations；stillkickinguptheirheelsbehind，stillstutteringandwhisperingintoears，still“goingalongbywhentheyaretalkingsly。“Buttherearenoguerrillasnow，nocondottieriwhocanbehired:theempirehasapaidandstandingarmy，asanempireshould。TheNorthCountrychiefs，sopowerfulintheclanwarfareofbygonedays，aregeneralsnow，——chiefsofstaff。Thecaptain-

general，withaminutepieceofHoneyDewunderhistongue，sitsinNumberSeven。AnewNumberSeven，——withelectriclightsandabathroomandabrassbed。Temporamutantur。Thereisanempireandafeudalsystem，didonebutknowit。Theclansarepartoftheempire，andeachchiefisresponsibleforhisclan——didonebutknowit。Onedoesn\'tknowit。

TheHonourableBrushBascom，DukeofPutnam，memberoftheHouse，hasarrivedunostentatiously——asishiscustom——andisseatedinhisownheadquarters，numberten(withabathroom)。NumberninebelongsfromyeartoyeartoMr。Manning，divisionsuperintendentofthatpartoftheNortheasternwhichwastheoldCentral，——athingentlemanwithside-

whiskers。Heloveslifeinthecapitalsomuchthathetakeshisvacationsthereinthewinter，——duringthesessionsoftheLegislature，——

presumablybecauseitisgay。Thereareotherrooms，higherup，ofimportantmen，tobesure，buttoenterwhichitisnotsomuchofanhonour。TheHonourableBillFleming，postmasterofBramptoninTruro(EphraimPrescottbeinglongsincedeadandBramptonalargeplacenow)，hashisvacationduringthesessioninroomthirty-six(nobathroom)；andtheHonourableElishaJane，EarlofHainesCountyintheNorthCountry，andUnitedStatesconsulsomewhere，ishomeonhisannualvacationinroomfifty-nine(nobath)。SenatorWhitredgehasaroom，andSenatorGreen，andCongressmenEldridgeandFairplay(nobaths，andonlytemporary)。

Thefivehundredwhoduringthenextthreemonthsaretoregisterthelawsfindquartersasbesttheycan。NotallofthemareasluxuriousasMr。CreweintheDuncanhouse，ortheHonourableBrushBascominnumbertenofthePelican，therentofeitherofwhichwouldswallowthelegislativesalaryinnotime。TheHonourableNatBillings，senatorfromthePutnamCountydistrict，iscomfortablyinstalled，tobesure。Bygradualandunexplaineddegrees，theconstitutionoftheStatehasbeenchangeduntilthereareonlytwentysenators。Noblefivehundred！

Steadfasttwenty！

Acarefulperusalofthebiographiesofgreatmenofthedynamictypeleadsonetotheconclusionthatmuchoftheirsuccessisduetoanassiduousimprovementofeveryopportunity，——andMr。HumphreyCrewecertainlypossessedthisquality，also。HeisinthePelicanHotelthisevening，meetingthementhatcount。Mr。JobBraden，whohadcomedownwiththeideathathemightbeofuseinintroducingthenewmemberfromLeithtothenotables，wasmetbythisremark:——

“Youcan\'tintroducemetoanyof\'em——theyallknowwhoIam。Justpointanyof\'emoutyouthinkIoughttoknow，andI\'llgoupandtalkto\'em。What？Comeuptomyhouseafterawhileandsmokeacigar。TheDuncanhouse，youknow——thebigonewiththeconservatory。“

Mr。Crewewasright——theyallknewhim。TheLeithmillionaire，thesummerresident，wasanewfactorinpolitics，andtherumoursofthesizeofhisfortunehadreachedahigh-watermarkinthePelicanHotelthatevening。Pushingthroughthecrowdinthecorridoroutsidethebridalsuitewaitingtoshakehandswiththenewgovernor，Mr。Crewegainedanentranceinnotime，anddidnothesitatetointerruptthesomewhatprotractedfelicitationsofanIrishmemberoftheNewcastledelegation。

“Howareyou，Governor？“hesaid，withthebonhomieofamanoftheworld。“I\'mHumphreyCrewe，fromLeith。Yougotaletterfromme，didn\'tyou，congratulatingyouuponyourelection？Wedidn\'tdobadlyforyouupthere。What？“

“Howdoyoudo，Mr。Crewe？“saidMr。Gray，withdignifiedhospitality，whiletheirfingersslidovereachother\'s；“I\'mgladtowelcomeyouhere。I\'venoticedtheinterestyou\'vetakenintheState，andthenumberofahem——veryusefulsocietiestowhichyoubelong。“

“Good，“saidMr。Crewe，“IdowhatIcan。Ijustdroppedintoshakeyourhand，andtosaythatIhopewe\'llpulltogether。“

Thegovernorliftedhiseyebrowsalittle。

“Why，Ihopeso，I\'msere，Mr。Crewe，“saidhe。

“I\'velookedoverthepolicyoftheStateforthelasttwentyyearsinregardtopublicimprovementsandtheintroductionofmodernmethodsasconcernshusbandry，andIfinditdeplorable。YouandI，Governor，liveinaprogressiveage，andwecan\'taffordnottoseesomethingdone。

What？ItismydesiretodowhatIcantohelpmakeyouradministrationanotableadvanceuponthoseofyourpredecessors。“

“Why——Igreatlyappreciateit，Mr。Crewe，“saidMr。Gray。

“I\'msureyoudo。I\'velookedoveryourrecord，andIfindyou\'vehadexperienceinStateaffairs，andthatyouareasuccessfulandconservativebusinessman。Thatisthetypewewant——eh？Businessmen。

You\'vereadoverthebillsIsentyoubyregisteredmail？“

“Ahem，“saidMr。Gray，“I\'vebeenagooddealoccupiedsinceelectionday，Mr。Crewe。“

“Read\'em，“saidMr。Crewe，“andI\'llcallinonyouatthestate-housedayafterto-morrowatfiveo\'clockpromptly。We\'lldiscuss\'em，Governor，andif，bythelightofyourlegislativeexperience，youhaveanysuggestionstomake，Ishallbegladtohear\'em。BeforeputtingthebillsintheirfinalshapeI\'vetakenthetroubletogooverthemwithmyfriend，Mr。Flint——ourmutualfriend，letussay。“

“I\'vehadthepleasureofmeetingMr。Flint，“saidMr。Gray。“I——ahem——

can\'tsaythatIknowhimintimately。“

Mr。CrewelookedatMr。Grayinamannerwhichplainlyindicatedthathewasnotaninfant。

“MyrelationswithMr。FlintandtheNortheasternhavebeenverypleasant，“saidMr。Crewe。“ImaysaythatIamsomewhatofapracticalrailroadandbusinessmanmyself。“

“Weneedsuchmen，“saidMr。Gray。“Why，howdoyoudo，Cary？HowaretheboysupinWheeler？“

“Well，good-by，Governor。Seeyoudayafterto-morrowatfiveprecisely，“saidMr。Crewe。

ThenextofficialcallofMr。CrewewasontheSpeaker-to-be，Mr。DobyofHale(forsuchmattersarecutanddried)，butanyamountofpoundingonMr。Doby\'sdoor(numberseventy-five)broughtnoresponse。OtherruralmembersbesidesMr。Crewecameandpoundedonthatdoor，andwentawayagain；butMr。JobBradensuddenlyappearedfromanotherpartofthecorridor，smilingbenignly，andapparentlynotresentingtherefusalofhispreviousoffersofhelp。

“W——wanttheSpeaker？“heinquired。

Mr。Creweacknowledgedthathedid。

“Edonlysleepsthere，“saidMr。Braden。“Guessyou\'llfindhimintheRailroad-Room。“

“RailroadRoom？“

“HilaryVane\'s，NumberSeven。“Mr。Bradentookholdofthelapelofhisfellow-townsman\'scoat。“Callatedyoudidn\'tknowitall，“hesaid；

“that\'sthereasonIcomedown——so\'stohelpyousome。\'

Mr。Crewe，althoughhewasnotwonttotakeasecondplace，followedMr。

Bradendownthestairstothedoornexttothegovernor\'s，wherehepushedaheadofhisguide，throughthegroupaboutthedoorway，——noneofwhom，however，wereattemptingtoenter。TheystaredinsomesurpriseatMr。Creweasheflungopenthedoorwithoutknocking，andslammeditbehindhiminMr。Braden\'sface。Butthebewildermentcausedbythisactofthosewithoutwasasnothingtotheastonishmentofthosewithin——hadMr。Crewebutknownit。Anoilpaintingoftheprominentmengatheredaboutthemarble-toppedtableinthecentreoftheroom，withanoutlinekeybeneathit，wouldhavebeenanappropriateworkofarttohanginthestate-house，asemblematicofthestatesmanshipofthepasttwentyyears。

TheHonourableHilaryVanesatatoneendinapaddedchair；Mr。Manning，thedivisionsuperintendent，startledoutofameditation，wasuprightontheendofthebed；Mr。Ridout，theNortheastern\'scapitallawyer，wasfiguringattheotherendofthetable；theHonourableBrushBascomwasbendingoverawide，sad-facedgentlemanofsometwohundredandfiftypoundswhosatatthecentreinhisshirt-sleeves，poringovernumeroussheetsinfrontofhimwhichwerecoveredwithnamesofthefivehundred。

ThisgentlemanwastheHonourableEdwardDobyofHale，who，withthekindassistanceoftheothergentlemenabove-named，wasinthissecludedspotmakingupalistofhiscommittees，undisturbedbyeagercountrymembers。

AtMr。Crewe\'sentranceMr。Bascom，withgreatpresenceofmind，laiddownhishatovertheprincipallist，whileMr。Ridout，takingthehint，puttheRevisedStatutesontheother。Therewasashortsilence；andtheSpeaker-to-be，whosepencilhadbeenknockedoutofhishand；

recoveredhimselfsufficientlytorelightanextremelyfrayedcigar。

NotthatMr。Crewewasintheleastabashed。Hechosethisopportunitytomakeasurveyofthesituation，noddedtoMr。Ridout，andwalkeduptothepaddedarmchair。

“Howareyou，Mr。Vane？“hesaid。“IthoughtI\'ddropintoshakehandswithyou，especiallyasIhavebusinesswiththeSpeaker，andheardhewashere。ButI\'mgladtohavemetyouformanyreasons。Iwantyoutobeoneofthevice-presidentsoftheStateEconomicLeague——itwon\'tcostyouanything。Ridouthasagreedtolethisnamegoon。“

TheHonourableHilary，notbeinganemotionalman，merelygruntedashestartedtorisetohisfeet。Whathewasabouttosaywasinterruptedbyatimidknock，andtherefollowedanotherbriefperiodofsilence。

“Itain\'tanybody，“saidMr。Bascom，andcrossingtheroom，turnedthekeyinthelock。Thetimidknockwasrepeated。

“Isupposeyou\'reconstantlyinterruptedherebyunimportantpeople，“Mr。

Creweremarked。

“Well，“saidMr。Vane，slowly，boringintoMr。Crewewithhiseye，“thatstatementisn\'tfaroutoftheway。“

“Idon\'tbelieveyou\'veevermetme，Mr。Vane。I\'mHumphreyCrewe。WehaveagoodfriendincommoninMr。Flint。“

TheHonourableHilary\'shandpassedoverMr。Crewe\'slightly。

“Gladtomeetyou，Mr。Crewe，“hesaid，andafainttwinkleappearedinhiseye。“Jobhastoldeverybodyyouwerecomingdown。Gladtowelcomeamanofyourahem——stampintopolitics。“

“I\'maplainbusinessman，“answeredMr。Crewe，modestly；“andalthoughI

haveconsiderableoccupation，Ibelievethatoneinmypositionhasdutiestoperform。I\'vecertainbills——“

“Yes，yes，“agreedtheHonourableHilary；“doyouknowMr。BrushBascomandMr。Manning？Allowmetointroduceyou，——andGeneralDoby。“

“Howareyou，General？“saidMr。CrewetotheSpeaker-to-be，“I\'malwaysgladtoshakethehandofaveteran。Indeed，Ihavethoughtthatasociety——“

“Iearnedmytitle，“saidGeneralDoby，somewhatsheepishly，“fightingonGovernorBrown\'sstaff。Thereweretwentyofus，andwewereresistless，weren\'twe，Brush？“

“Twentyonastaff！“exclaimedMr。Crewe。

“Oh，wefurnishedourownuniformsandpaidourownway——exceptthoseofuswhohadpasses，“declaredtheGeneral，asthoughthememoryofhismilitarycareerdidnotgivehimunalloyedpleasure。“What\'stheuseofStatesovereigntyifyoucan\'thaveaglitteringarmytofollowthegovernorround？“

Mr。Crewehadneverconsideredthisquestion，andhewasnotthemantowastetimeinspeculation。

“Doubtlessyougotaletterfromme，GeneralDoby，“hesaid。“WedidwhatwecouldupourwaytoputyouintheSpeaker\'schair。“

GeneralDobycreasedalittleinthemiddle，tosignifythathewasbowing。

“Itrustitwillbeinmypowertoreciprocate，Mr。Crewe，“hereplied。

“WewanttotreatMr。Creweright，“Mr。Bascomputin。

“Youhaveprobablymadeanoteofmyrequests，“Mr。Crewecontinued。“I

shouldliketobeontheJudiciaryCommittee，foronething。AlthoughI

amnotalawyer，Iknowsomethingoftheprinciplesoflaw，andI

understandthatthisandtheAppropriationsCommitteearethemostimportant。ImaysaywithtruththatIshouldbeausefulmemberofthat，asIamaccustomedtosittingonfinancialboards。Asmybillsareofsomeconsiderableimportanceanddealwithpracticalprogressivemeasures，IhavenohesitationinaskingforthechairmanshipofPublicImprovements，——andofcourseamembershipintheAgriculturalisessential，asIhavebillsforthem。Gentlemen，“headdedtotheroomatlarge，“IhavetypewrittenmanifoldsofthosebillswhichIshallbehappytoleavehere——atheadquarters。“Andsuitingtheactiontotheword，heputdownapacketonthetable。

TheHonourableBrushBascom，accompaniedbyMr。Ridout，walkedtothewindowandstoodstaringattheglitteroftheelectriclightonthesnow。TheHonourableHilarygazedsteadilyatthetable，whileGeneralDobyblewhisnosewithpainfulviolence。

“I\'lldowhatIcanforyou，certainly，Mr。Crewe，“hesaid。“But——whatistobecomeoftheotherfourhundredandninety-nine？ThewaysofaSpeakerarehard，Mr。Crewe，andIhavetodojusticetoall。“

“Well，“answeredMr。Crewe，ofcourseIdon\'twanttobeunreasonable，andIrealizethepressurethat\'sputuponyou。ButwhenyouconsidertheimportanceoftheworkIcamedownheretodo——“

“Idoconsiderit，“saidtheSpeaker，politely。“It\'salittleearlytotalkaboutthemake-upofcommittees。IhopetobeabletogetatthembySunday。YoumaybesureI\'lldomybestforyou。“

“We\'dbettermakeanoteofit，“saidMr。Crewe；“givemesomepaper，“

andhewasreachingaroundbehindGeneralDobyforoneoftheprecioussheetsunderMr。Bascom\'shat，whenthegeneral，withgreatpresenceofmind，satonit。Wehaveit，fromamaliciousanduntrustworthysource，thattheNortheasternRailroadspaidforanewone。

“Here，here，“criedtheSpeaker，“makethememorandumhere。“

Atthiscriticaljunctureafortunatediversionoccurred。Arap——threetimes——ofnouncertainqualitywasheardatthedoor，andMr。BrushBascomhastenedtoopenit。Avoicecriedout:——

“IsManninghere？Theboysareholleringforthosepasses，“andawiry，sallowgentlemanburstin，noneotherthantheHonourableElishaJane，whowastakinghisconsularvacation。WhenhiseyesfelluponMr。Crewehehaltedabruptly，lookedalittlefoolish，andgaveaquestioningglanceattheHonourableHilary。

“Mountainpasses，Lish？Sitdown。DidIevertellyouthatstoryabouttheslideinRicketsGulch？“askedtheHonourableBrushBascom。ButfirstletmemakeyouacquaintedwithMr。HumphreyCreweofLeith。Mr。

Crewehascomedownherewiththefinestlotofbillsyoueversaw，andwe\'reallgoingtotakeholdandput\'emthrough。Here，Lish，I\'llgiveyouaset。“

“Read\'em，Mr。Jane，“urgedMr。Crewe。“Idon\'tclaimmuchfor\'em，butperhapstheywillhelptosetafewlittlemattersright——Ihopeso。“

Mr。Janeopenedthebillswithdeliberation，andcasthiseyesovertheheadings。

I\'llread\'emthisverynight，Mr。Crewe，“hesaidsolemnly；“thismeetingyouisaparticularpleasure，andIhaveheardinmanyquartersofthesemeasures。“

“Well，“admittedMr。Crewe，“theymayhelpsome。Ihaveafewothermatterstoattendtothisevening，soImustsaygood-night，gentlemen。

Don\'tletmeinterferewiththoseImountainpasses，Mr。Manning。“

Withthispartingremark，whichprovedhimtobenotmerelyanidealistinpolitics，butapracticalman，Mr。Crewetookhisleave。Andhewastoomuchoccupiedwithhisownthoughtstopayanyattentiontotheclickofthekeyasitturnedinthelock，ortohearUnitedStatesSenatorWhitredgerap(threetimes)onthedoorafterhehadturnedthecorner，ortoknowthatpresentlytheslidingdoorsintothegovernor\'sbridalsuite——weretoopenatrifle，largeenoughfortheadmissionofthebodyoftheHonourableAsaP。Gray。

NumberSevenstillkeepsupitsreputationastheseatofbenevolence，andgreatpublicbenefactorsstillmeettheretodiscussthewelfareoftheirfellow-men:thehallowedcouncilchambernowofanempire，seatoftheGovernor-generaloftheState，theHonourableHilaryVane，andhisadvisers。Foryearsabenightedpeople，withafondbeliefintheirparticipationofRepublicaninstitutions，hadelectedthenoblefivehundredoftheHouseandthestanchtwentyoftheSenate。Noblefivehundreds(biggestLegislatureintheworld)havecomeandgone；debated，applauded，foughtandonoccasionsdenounced，kickedoverthetraces，andevenwept——tonoavail。Beholdthatpoliticalinstitutionofman，representativegovernmentThereitisonthestage，curtainup，asublimespectacleforallmentosee，andthrilloverspeechesabouttheRightsofMan，andtheForefathersintheRevolution；aboutConstituentswhodonotconstitute。TheHighHeavensallowitandsmile，anditiswellfortheatomsthattheythinkthemselvesfreeAmericanrepresentatives，thattheydonotfeelthestringofpredestinationaroundtheirankles。Thesenatorialtwenty，fromtheirhighcarvedseats，seethestringsandsmile，too；yes，andseetheirownstrings，andsmile。Wisdomdoesnotwishforflight。“Thepeople“havingchangedtheconstitution，theblackbirdsarereducedfromfourandfortytoascore。Thisischeaper——forthepeople。

Democracyonthefrontofthestagebeforeanapplaudingaudience；

performersabsorbedintheirparts，forgettingthatthelandlordhastobepaidinmoneyyettobeearned。Behindthestage，therealplay，theabsorbinginterest，thehighstakes——occasionaldiscreetlaughterthroughthepeep-holewhenanactormakesanimpassionedappealtothegods。

Democracyinfront，theFeudalSystem，theDukesandEarlsbehind——butinplainclothes；Democracyinstarsandspanglesandtrappingsandinsignia。Or，abetterfigure，theFatesweavingthewebinthatmysticchamber，NumberSeven，pausingnowandagaintosmileasanewthreadisputin。Proclamations，constitutions，andcreedscrumblebeforeconditions；theLawofDividendsisthehighlaw，andtheForumanopenventthroughwhichthewhitesteammayriseheavenwardandberesolvedagainintowater。

Mr。Crewetookhisseatinthepopularassemblagenextday，althoughmostofthefivehundredgaveuptheirstotheladieswhohadcometohearhisExcellencydeliverhisinaugural。TheHonourableAsamadeasplendidfigure，allagreed，andreadhisspeechinafirmandmanlyvoice。A

largepartofitwasaboutthepeople；someofitaboutthesacredgovernmenttheyhadinheritedfromtheirforefathers；stillanotherconcernedthehighcharacterandachievementsoftheinhabitantswithintheStatelines；thenameofAbrahamLincolnwasmentioned，and，withevengreaterreverenceandfervour，theRepublicanpartywhichhadennobledandenrichedthepeople——andincidentallyelectedthegovernor。

Therewasanoblefinancialpolicy，acurtailmentofexpense。Theforestsshouldbeprotected，roadsshouldbebuilt，and，aboveall，corporationsshouldbeheldtoastrictaccounting。

Needlesstosay，thespeechgavegreatsatisfactiontoall，andmanyoldfriendsleftthehallexclaimingthattheydidn\'tbelieveAsahaditinhim。Asamatteroffact(knownonlytotheinitiated)，Asadidn\'thaveitinhimuntillastnight，beforehesqueezedthroughthecrackinthefoldingdoorsfromroomnumbersixtoroomNumberSeven。Theinspirationcametohimthen，whenhewasennobledbytheGovernor-general，whorepresentstheEmpire。PerpetualGovernor-general，whoquickensintolifepuppetgovernorsofhisownchoosingAsahasagreed，forthehonourofthetitleofgovernorofhisState，toactthepart，openthefairs，lendhismagnificentvoicetothosephraseswhichitroundssowell。Itisfortunate，whenwesmokeafinecigarfromHavana，thatwecannotlookintothefactory。Thesightwoulddisturbus。Itwaswellfortheapplauding，deep-breathingaudienceinthestate-housethatfirstofJanuarythattheydidnothaveaglimpseinroomNumberSeventhenightbefore，underthesheetsthatcontainedthelistoftheSpeaker\'scommittees；itwaswellthattheycouldnotgobacktoRiptonintotheofficesonthesquare，earlierinDecember，whereMr。HamiltonTootingwaswritingthenoblepartofthatinauguralfrommemorandagivenhimbytheHonourableHilaryVane。Yes，theversatileMr。Tooting，andnoneother，doomedforevertohidethelightofhisgeniusunderabushel！

ThefinancialpartwaswrittenbytheGovernor-generalhimself——theHonourableHilaryVane。Andwhenitwasallfinishedandrevised，itwasputintoalongenvelopewhichborethisprintedaddress:AugustusP。

Flint，Pres\'tUnitedNortheasternRailroads，NewYork。Andcamebackwithcertainannotationsonthemargin，whichweredulyincorporatedintoit。Thisistheprivatehistory(whichmustneverbetold)ofthedocumentwhichonJanuaryfirstbecame，asfarasfameandposterityisconcerned，theHonourableAsaP。Gray\'s——foreverandforever。

Mr。Crewelikedtheinaugural，andwasoneofthefirsttotellMr。Grayso，andtoexpresshispleasureandappreciationofthefactthathisrequest(mailedinNovember)hadbeencompliedwith，thatthesubstanceofhisbillshadbeenrecommendedinthegovernor\'sprogramme。

Hedidnotpausetoreflectonthemaxim，thatplatformsaremadetogetinbyandinauguralstogetstartedby。

Althoughannualeffortshavebeenmadebyvariouspublic-spiritedcitizenstobuildanewstate-house，economy——withassistancefromroomNumberSevenhastriumphed。Itisthesamestate-housefromthegalleryofwhichpoorWilliamWetherellwitnessedthedramaoftheWoodchuckSession，althoughtherearemoremembersnow，forthepopulationoftheStatehasincreasedtofivehundredthousand。ItiswellforGeneralDoby，withhistwohundredandfiftypounds，thatheisintheSpeaker\'schair；fivehundredseatsareagoodmanyforthathall，andpainfulinalongsession。TheHonourableBrushBascomcanstretchhislegs，becauseheisfortunateenoughtohaveafrontseat。Uponinquiry，itturnsoutthatMr。Bascomhashadafrontseatforthelasttwentyyears——hehasbeenuniformlyluckyindrawing。TheHonourableJacobBotcher(tenyears\'service)isequallyfortunate；theHonourableJakeisamanoflargepresence，andavoicethatsoundsasifitcame，oracularly，fromthecavernsoftheearth。Heiseasilyheardbythemembersonthebackseats，whileMr。Bascomisnot。Mr。Ridout，thecapitallawyer，isintheHousethisyear，andsingularlyenoughhasafrontseatlikewise。ItwasMr。Crewe\'smisfortunetodrawnumber415，intheextremecorneroftheroom，andnextthesteamradiator。Buthewasnotofthemetaltoaccepttamelysuchaticketingfromthehatofdestiny(viatheClerkoftheHouse)。Hecomplained，asanymanofspiritwould，andMr。Utter，thepoliteclerk，isprofoundlysorry，——andsaysitmaybemanaged。

Curiouslyenough，theHonourableBrushBascomandtheHonourableJacobBotcherjoinMr。Creweinhiscomplaint，andreiteratethatitisanoutragethatamanofsuchabilityanddeservingprominenceshouldbeamongthesubmergedfourhundredandseventy。Itismanagedinamysteriousmannerwedon\'tpretendtofathom，andbeholdMr。CreweinthefrontoftheForum，intheseatsofthemighty，wherehecaneasilybepointedoutfromthegalleryattheheadofthefivehundred，betweenthoseshiningleadersandparliamentarians，theHonourablesBrushBascomandJakeBotcher。

ForMr。CrewehasnotcometotheLegislature，likethecountrymembersintherear，toacquireasmatteringofparliamentaryprocedurebythedaytheSpeakerispresentedwithagoldwatch，attheendofthesession。Nothe！Notthepracticalbusinessman，thememberofboards，thechairmanandpresidentofsocieties。HehasstudiedtheRulesoftheHouseandparliamentarylaw，youmaybesure。Geniusdoesnotcomeunprepared，andisrarelycaughtnapping。AftertheLegislatureadjournedthatweekthefollowingtelegramwassentoverthewires:——

AugustusP。Flint，NewYork。

KindlyuseyourinfluencewithDobytosecuremycommitteeappointments。Importantaspermyconversationwithyou。

HumphreyCrewe。

NorwasMr。CreweidlefromSaturdaytoMondaynight，whenthecommitteesweretobeannounced。HesenttotheStateTribuneofficeforfiftycopiesofthatvaluablepaper，whichcontainedatwo-column-and-a-halfarticleonMr。Creweasalegislatorandfinancierandcitizen，withasummaryofhisbillsandanargumentastohowtheStatewouldbenefitbytheiradoption；anaccuratelistofMr。Crewe\'ssocietieswasinserted，andanaccountofhislife\'shistory，andofthoseancestorsofhiswhohadbeenbornorlivedwithintheState。Indeed，theaccuracyofthisarticleasawholedidgreatcredittotheeditoroftheStateTribune，whomusthavespentatremendousamountofpainstakingresearchuponit；

andthearticlewassogoodthatMr。Creweregretted(undoubtedlyfortheeditor\'ssake)thatarequestcouldnotbeappendedtoitsuchasisuseduponmarriageandfuneralnotices:“NewYork，Boston，andPhiladelphiapaperspleasecopy。“

Mr。Crewethoughtithisdutytoremedyasmuchaspossibletheunfortunatelimitedcirculationofthearticle，andhespentasmuchasawholedaymakingoutalistoffriendsandacquaintanceswhomhethoughtworthytoreceiveacopyoftheTribune——markedpersonal。VictoriaFlintgotone，andreadittoherfatheratthebreakfasttable。(Mr。Flintdidnotopenhis。)AustenVanewonderedwhyanymaninhisobscureandhelplesspositionshouldhavebeenhonoured，buthonouredhewas。HesenthistoVictoria，too，andwassurprisedtofindthatsheknewhishandwritingandwrotehimalettertothankhimforit:aletterwhichprovokedonhispartmuchlaughter，andelementsofothersensationswhich，accordingtoCharlesReade，shouldformtheingredientsofagoodnovel。Butofthismatterlater。

Mrs。PomfretandAliceeachgotone，andeachwroteMr。Creweappropriatecongratulations。(Alice\'sanswersupervised。)Mrs。Chillinghamgotone；

theHonourableHilaryVanegotone——markedinredink，lestheshouldhaveskippeditinhisdailyperusalofthepaper。Mr。Brush，Bascomgotonelikewise。ButthelistofMr。Crewe\'sacquaintancesistoolongandtoobroadtodwelluponfurtherinthesepages。

TheMonday-nightsessioncameatlast，thatsensationalhourwhentheSpeakermakesthosedecisionstowhichheissupposedtohavegivenbirthoverSundayintheseclusionofhiscountryhomeatHale。Monday-nightsessionsare，asarule，confinedinattendancetotheHonourableBrushBascomandMr。RidoutandafewotherconscientiousmemberswhodonotbelieveincheatingtheState，butto-nightallisbustleandconfusion，andatleastfourhundredmembersarepushingdowntheaislesandsqueezingpasteachotherintothenarrowseats，andreadingtheStateTribuneortheringingwordsofthegovernor\'sinauguralwhichtheyfindintheracksonthebackoftheseatsbeforethem。SpeakerDoby，whohasbeenapparentlydeepinconferencewiththemostimportantmembers(amongthemMr。Crewe，towhomhehaswhisperedthataviolentsnow-stormisraginginHale)，rapsfororder；andafterafewpreliminarieshandstoMr。Utter，theclerk，amidstabreathlesssilence，thepaperonwhichtheparliamentarycareerofsomanyambitiousstatesmendepends。

Itisnotapleasuretorecordtheperfidyofman，northelackofjudgmentwhichpreventshim，inhiscircumscribedlights，fromrecognizingundoubtedgeniuseswhenheseesthem。PerhapsitwasjealousyonGeneralDoby\'spart，andaselfishdesiretooccupythecentreofthestagehimself，butatanyratewewillpasshastilyoverthedisagreeableportionsofthisnarrative。Mr。Crewesettledhimselfwithhisfeetextended，andwithacomplacencywhichhehadrightlyearnedbyleavingnostoneunturned，tolisten。HesatupalittlewhentheAppropriationsCommittee，headedbytheHonourableJakeBotcher，didnotcontainhisname——butitmighthavebeenanoversightofMr。Utters；

whentheJudiciary(Mr。Ridout\'scommittee)wasreaditbegantolooklikemalice；committeeaftercommitteewasrevealed，andthenameofHumphreyCrewemightnothavebeencontainedinthefivehundredexceptasthetwelfthmemberofforestry，untilitappearedatthetopofNationalAffairs。Herewasabroadenoughfield，certainly，——theTrusts，theTariff，theGoldStandard，theForeignPossessions，——andMr。Crewe\'smindbegantosoarinspiteofhimself。PublicImprovementswasreached，andhestraightened。Mr。Beck，arailroadlawyerfromBelfast，ledit。

Mr。Crewearose，asanymanofspiritwould，andwalkedwithdignityuptheaisleandoutofthehouse。Thisdeliberateattempttocrushgeniuswouldinevitablyreactonitself。TheHonourableHilaryVaneandMr。

Flintshouldbeinformedofitatonce。

CHAPTERX

“FORBILLSMAYCOME，ANDBILLSMAYGO“

Amanwithasenseofhumouroncewenttothecapitalasamemberofthefivehundredfromhistown，andheneverwentbackagain。Onereasonforthiswasthathediedthefollowingyear，literally，thedoctorssaid，fromlaughingtoomuch。Iknowthatthisstatementwillbereceivedincredulously，anddisputedbythosewhoclaimthatlaughterisagoodthing；thehonourablegentlemandiedfromtoomuchofagoodthing。Hewasoverpoweredbyhavingtoomuchtolaughat，andtheundiscerningthoughthimafool，andtheEmpirehadnoneedofacourtjester。Butmanyofhissayingshavelived，nevertheless。Hewroteapoem，saidtobeaplagiarism，whichcontainsthequotationatthebeginningofthischapter:“Forbillsmaycome，andbillsmaygo，butIgoonforever。“

ThefirstpersonsingularissupposedtorelatetotheUnitedNortheasternRailroads。Itwasapoorjokeatbest。

Itisneedlesstosaythatthegentlemanreferredtohadabackseatamongthesubmergedfourhundredandseventy，——andthathekeptit。Nodiscerningandpowerfulwell-wisherscameforwardandsaidtohim，“Friend，gouphigher。“Hesat，doubledup，innumber，andthegodsgavehimcompensationinlaughter；hedisturbedtheSolonsaroundhim，whowereinterestedinwhatwasgoingoninfront，andtryingtodotheirdutytotheirconstituentsbylearningparliamentaryprocedurebeforetheSpeakergothisgoldwatchandshedtearsoverit。

Thegentlemanwholaughedanddiedisforgotten，ashedeservestobe，anditneveroccurredtoanybodythathemighthavebeenaphilosopher，afterall。Thereissomethingirresistiblyfunnyaboutpredestination；

aboutmenwhoarestrivingandlearningandsoberlyvotinguponmeasureswithwhichtheyhaveaslittletodoasguinea-pigs。Therewerecertainwiseandcynicalatheistswhodidnotattendthesessionsatallexceptwhentheyreceivedmysterioushintstodoso。ThesewerechieflyfromNewcastle。Andtherewereotherswhoplayedpokerinthestate-housecellarwaitingfortheWordtocometothem，whentheywentupandvoted(prudentlycountingtheirchipsbeforetheydidso)，anddescendedagain。

Themanwithasenseofhumourlaughedatthese，too，andatthetwentyblackbirdsintheSenate，——butnotsoheartily。Helaughedattheirgravity，fornogravitycanequalthatofgentlemenwhoplaywithstackedcards。

Therisiblegentlemanlaughedattheproposedlegislation，aboutwhichhemadethesong，andhelikenedittoastreamthatriseshopefullyinthemountains，andtakesitswaysingingattheprospectofreachingtheocean，butpresentlyflowsintoaholeinthegroundtofilltheforgottencavernsoftheearth，andislosttotheknowledgeandsightofman。ThecavernshelabelledrespectivelyAppropriations，Railroad，Judiciary，andtheirguardianswereunmistakablytheHonourablesMessrs。

Bascom，Botcher，andRidout。Thegreatestcavernofallhecalled“TheSenate。“

Ifyoulisten，youcanhearthemusicofthestreamofbillsasitisrisinghopefullyandflowingnow:“Mr。CreweofLeithgivesnoticethatonto-morroworsomesubsequentdayhewillintroduceabillentitled，\'AnactfortheImprovementoftheStateHighways。\'Mr。CreweofLeithgivesnotice，etc。“AnactfortheImprovementofthePracticeofAgriculture。\'\'AnactrelatingtotheStateIndebtedness。\'\'AnacttoincreasetheStateForestArea。\'\'AnacttoincorporatetheStateEconomicLeague。\'\'AnacttoincorporatetheStateChildren\'sCharitiesAssociation。\'\'AnactinrelationtoAbandonedFarms。\'“Theseweresomeofthemostimportant，andtheyweredulyintroducedonthemorrow，andgravelyreferredbytheSpeakertovariouscommittees。Asmightbeexpected，amanwhosewatchwordis，“thorough“immediatelygotalistofthosecommittees，andlostnotimeinhuntingupthechairmenandthevariousavailablemembersthereof。

Asamanofspirit，also，Mr。CrewewrotetoMr。Flint，protestingastothemannerinwhichhehadbeentreatedconcerningcommittees。InthecourseofaweekhereceivedakindbutnecessarilybriefletterfromtheNortheastern\'spresidenttoremindhimthathepersistedinafallacy；asaneighbour，Mr。Flintwouldhelphimtotheextentofhispower，buttheNortheasternRailroadscouldnotinterfereinlegislativeorpoliticalmatters。Mr。Crewewasnaturallypainedbythelackofconfidenceofhisfriend；itseemsuselesstoreiteratethathewasfarfrombeingafool，andnomancouldbeinthecapitaladayduringthesessionwithoutbeingtoldoftheexistenceofNumberSeven，nomatterhowlittletheinformantmightknowofwhatmightbegoingonthere。Mr。Crewehadbeenfortunateenoughtoseetheinsideofthatmysteriousroom，and，beingasufficientlyclevermantorealizetheimportanceandnecessityofgovernmentbycorporations，hadbeenshockedatnothinghehadseenorheard。However，hadhehadaglimpseoftheSpeaker\'slistsunderthehopelesslycrushedhatofMr。Bascom，perhapshemighthavebeenshocked，afterall。

Itwasaboutthistimethatatouchingfriendshipbeganwhichought，injustice，tobebrieflychronicled。ItwasimpossiblefortheHonourableBrushBascomandtheHonourableJacobBotchertohaveMr。Crewesittingbetweenthemandnotconceiveastrongaffectionforhim。TheHonourableBrush，thoughnotgiventoexpressinghisfeelings，betrayedsomesurpriseatthevolumesMr。Crewehadcontributedtothestreamofbills；

andMr。Botcher，inaDelphicwhisper，invitedMr。Crewetovisithiminroomforty-eightofthePelicanthatevening。Totellthetruth，Mr。

Crewereturnedthefeelingofhiscompanionswarmly，andhehadevenentertainedtheideaofaskingthembothtodinewithhimthatevening。

Numberforty-eight(theHonourableJake\'s)wasafree-and-easydemocraticresort。Nothreeknocksandapasswordbeforeyouturnthekeyhere。

AlmostbeforeyourknuckleshitthepanelyouheardMr。Botcher\'sheartyvoiceshouting“Comein，“inspiteoftheclosedtransom。TheHonourableJake，beingatee-totaller，hadnobathroom，andnonebuthisintimatefriendseverlookedinthethirdfromthetopbureaudrawer。

TheproprietorofthePelican，whoincommonwiththerestofhumanityhadfallenavictimtotheroughandhonestcharmsandheartygoodfellowshipoftheHonourableJake，alwaysplacedalargepaddedarm-chairinnumberforty-eightbeforethesessions，knowingthattheHonourableJake\'sconstituencywouldbeuniformlykindtohim。ThereMr。Botcherwaswonttosit(whenhewasnotdepressingoneofthetilesintherotunda)，surroundedbyhisfriendsandtheirtobaccosmoke，discussinginhisfrankandmanlyfashionthepublicquestionsoftheday。

Mr。Crewethoughtitalittlestrangethat，wheneverheenteredaroominthePelican，asilenceshouldsucceedthebuzzoftalkwhichhehadheardthroughtheclosedtransom；butheverynaturallyattributedthistotheconstraintwhichordinarymenwouldbelikelytofeelinhispresence。

Inthemouthofonepresumptuousmembertheword“railroad“wascutintwobyanagateglancefromtheHonourableBrush，andMr。CrewenotedwithsomesurprisethattheDemocraticleaderoftheHouse，Mr。Painter，wasseatedonMr。Botcher\'smattress，withanexpressionthatwasinsingularcontrasttothelookofbolddefiancewhichhehadsweptovertheHousethatafternooninannouncinghisoppositionpolicy。ThevulgarpoliticalsuggestionmighthavecreptintoamoretrivialmindthanMr。

Crewe\'sthatMr。Painterwasbeing，“puttobed，“thebedbeingverysimilartothatofProcrustes。Mr。Botcherextractedhimselffromthenooksandcranniesofhisarmchair。

“Howareyou，Crewe？“hesaidhospitably；“we\'reallfriendshere——eh，Painter？Wedon\'tcarryourquarrelsoutsidetheswingingdoors。YouknowMr。Crewe——bysight，ofcourse。Doyouknowtheseothergentlemen，Crewe？Ididn\'texpectyousoearly。“

The“othergentlemen“saidthattheywerehappytomaketheacquaintanceoftheirfellow-memberfromLeith，andseeminglywithoneconsentbegantoedgetowardsthedoor。

“Don\'tgo，boys，“Mr。Bascomprotested。“Letmefinishthatstory。“

Someof“theboys“seemedtoregardthisstatementashumorous，——morehumorous，indeed，thanthestoryitself。Andwhenitwasfinishedtheytooktheirdeparture，atrifleawkwardly，ledbyMr。Painter。

“They\'realittlemitebashful，“saidMr。Botcher，apologetically。

“Howmanymoreofthosebillshaveyougot？“demandedMr。Bascom，fromthesteamradiator，withcharacteristicdirectness。

“Iput\'emallinthismorning，“saidMr。Crewe，“butIhavethoughtsinceoftwoorthreeotherconditionswhichmightbebenefitedbylegislation。“

“Well，“saidMr。Bascom，kindly，“ifyouhaveanymoreIwasgoingtosuggestthatyoudistribute\'emroundamongtheboys。That\'sthewayI

do，andmostfolksdon\'tguessthey\'reyourbills。See？“

“Whatharmisthereinthat？“demandedMr。Crewe。“I\'mnotashamedof\'em。“

“Brushwasonlylookin\'atitfromthepointofviewofgettin\'\'emthrough，“honestMr。Botcherputin，instentoriantones。“Itdoesn\'tdoforanewmembertobethoughtahogaboutlegislation。“

NowtheHonourableJacobonlymeantthisinthekindestmanner，asweknow，andtogiveinexperienceahintfromwell-intentionedexperience。

Ontheotherhand，Mr。Crewehadadignityandapositiontouphold。Hewasapersonality。Peoplewhowenttoofarwithhimwereapttoberebukedbyacertainglassyqualityinhiseye，andthisnowcausedtheHonourableJaketodrawbackperceptibly。

“Iseenoreasonwhyapublic-spiritedmanshouldbeopentosuchanimputation，“saidMr。Crewe。

“Certainlynot，certainlynot，“saidMr。Botcher，instentoriantonesofapology，“Iwasonlytryingtogiveyoualittlefriendlyadvice，butI

mayhaveputittoostrong。BrushandI——Imayaswellbeplainaboutit，Mr。Crewe——havetakenalikingtoyou。Couldn\'thelpit，sir，sittingnexttoyouaswedo。Wetakeaninterestinyourcareer，andwedon\'twantyoutomakeanymistakes。Ain\'tthataboutit，Brush？“

“That\'saboutit，“saidMr。Bascom。

Mr。Crewewastobigamannottoperceiveandappreciatethesterlingphilanthropywhichlaybeneaththeexteriorsofhisnewfriends，whoscornedtoflatterhim。

“Iunderstandthespiritinwhichyouradviceisgiven，gentlemen，“herepliedmagnanimously，“andIappreciateit。Weareallworkingforthesamethings，andweallbelievethattheymustbebroughtaboutinthesamepracticalway。Forinstance，weknowaspracticalmenthattherailroadpaysalargetaxinthisState，andthatpropertymusttakeahand——averyconsiderablehand——inlegislation。Yougentlemen，asimportantfactorsintheRepublicanorganization，areloyalto——er——thatproperty，andperhapsforwhollydesirablereasonscannotbringforwardtoomanybillsunderyourownnames。WhereasI——“

AtthispointinMr。Crewe\'sremarkstheHonourableJacobBotcherwasseizedbyanappallingcoughingfitwhichthreatenedtobreakhisarm-

chair，probablyowingtothefactthathehadswallowedsomethingwhichhehadinhismouththewrongway。Mr。Bascom，assistedbyMr。Crewe，poundedhimrelentlesslyontheback。

“Ireadthatarticleinthe\'Tribune\'aboutyouwithgreatinterest，“

saidMr。Bascom，whenMr。Botcher\'scoughinghadsubsided。“Ihadnoideayouwereso——ahem——wellequippedforapoliticalcareer。Butwhatwewantedtospeaktoyouaboutwasthis，“hecontinued，asMr。Creweshowedsignsofbreakingin，“thosecommitteeappointmentsyoudesired。“

“Yes，“saidMr。Crewe，withsomepardonableheat，“theSpeakerdoesn\'tseemtoknowwhichsidehisbread\'sbutteredon。“

“WhatIwasgoingtosay，“proceededMr。Bascom，“wasthatGeneralDobyisaprettygoodfellow。Personally，Ihappentoknowthatthegeneralfeelsverybadlythathecouldn\'tgiveyouwhatyouwanted。Hetookashinetoyouthatnightyousawhim。“

“Yes，“Mr。Botcheragreed，forhehadquiterecovered，thegeneralfeltbad——feelsbad，Ishouldsay。Heperceivedthatyouwereamanofability，sir——“

“Andthatwasjustthereason，“saidtheHonourableBrush，“thathecouldn\'tmakeyoumoreusefuljustnow。“

“There\'sagooddealofjealousy，mydearsir，againstyoungmembersofability，“saidMr。Botcher，inhismostoracularandimpressivetones。

“Thecompetitionamongstthose——er——whohaveservedthepartyisverykeenforthepositionsyoudesired。IpersonallyhappentoknowthatthegeneralhadyouontheJudiciaryandAppropriations，andthatsomeofyour——er——well-wisherspersuadedhimtotakeyouoffforyourowngood。“

“Itwouldn\'tdoforthepartyleaderstomakeyoutooprominentallatonce，“saidMr。Bascom。“Youareboundtotakeanactivepartinwhatpasseshere。Thegeneralsaid，\'AtalleventsIwillgiveMr。Creweonechairmanshipbywhichhecanmakeanameforhimselfsuitedtohistalents，\'andheinsistedongivingyou，inspiteofsomeremonstrancesfromyourfriends，NationalAffairs。Thegeneralurged，rightly，thatwithyourbroadviewandknowledgeofnationalpolicy，itwashisdutytoputyouinthatplacewhateverpeoplemightsay。“

Mr。Crewelistenedtotheseexplanationsinsomesurprise；andbeingarationalman，hadtoconfessthattheywere——moreorlessreasonable。

“Scarcelyanybillscomebeforethatcommittee，“heobjected。

“Ah，“repliedMr。Bascom，“thatistrue。Butthechairmanofthatcommitteeisgenerallysupposedtobeinlinefor——er——nationalhonours。

Ithasnotalwayshappenedinthepast，becausethemenhavenotprovedworthy。Buttheopportunityisalwaysgiventothatchairmantomakeaspeechuponnationalaffairswhichislistenedtowiththedeepestinterest。

“Isthatso？“saidMr。Crewe。Hewantedtobeofservice，asweknow。

Hewasamanofideas，andtheopeningsentencesofthespeechwerealreadyoccurringtohim。

“Let\'sgoupstairsandseethegeneralnow，“suggestedMr。Botcher，smilingthatsuchahappythoughtshouldhaveoccurredtohim。

“Why，Iguesswecouldn\'tdoanybetter，“Mr。Bascomagreed。

“Well，“saidMr。Crewe，“I\'mwillingtohearwhathe\'sgottosay，anyway。“

Takingadvantageofthisgenerousconcession，Mr。Botcherhastilylockedthedoor，andledthewayupthestairwaytonumberseventy-five。Afteraknockortwohere，thedooropenedacrack，disclosing，insteadofGeneralDoby\'scherubiccountenance，asallowfacewithanexceedinglypointednose。Theownerofthesefeatures，havingonlyMr。Botcherinhislineofvision，madewhatwasperhapsanunguardedremark。

“Hello，Jake，thegeneral\'sinnumbernine——Manningsentforhimabouthalfanhourago。“

ItwasMr。Botcherhimselfwhoalmostclosedthedooronthegentleman\'ssharpnose，andtookMr。Crewe\'sarmconfidingly。

“We\'llgouptothedeskandseeDobyinthemorning，——he\'sbusy，“saidtheHonourableJake。

“What\'sthematterwithseeinghimnow？“Mr。Crewedemanded。“IknowManning。He\'sthedivisionsuperintendent，isn\'the？“

Mr。BotcherandMr。Bascomexchangedglances。

“Why，yes——“saidMr。Bascom，“yes，heis。He\'sagreatfriendofGeneralDoby\'s，andtheirwivesaregreatfriends。“

“Intimatefriends，sir，“saidtheHonourableJake“Well，“saidMr。Crewe，“wewon\'tbother\'embutamoment。“

Itwashewholedthewaynow，briskly，theHonourableBrushandtheHonourableJakepressingcloselyafterhim。ItwasMr。Crewewho，withoutpausingtoknock，pushedopenthedoorofnumbernine，whichwasnotquiteclosed；anditwasMr。Crewewhomadetheimportantdiscoverythatthelugubriousdivisionsuperintendenthadasenseofhumour。Mr。

Manningwasseatedatamarble-toppedtablewritingonasalmon-colouredcard，intheactofpronouncingthesewords:——

“ForMr。SpeakerandMrs。SpeakerandallthelittleSpeakers，toNewYorkandreturn。“

Mr。SpeakerDoby，standingbeforethemarble-toppedtablewithhishandsinhispockets，heardthenoisebehindhimandturned，andamournfulexpressionspreadoverhiscountenance。

“Don\'tmindme，“saidMr。Crewe，wavingahandinthedirectionofthesalmon-colouredtickets；“Ihopeyouhaveagoodtime，General。Whendoyougo？“

“Why，“exclaimedtheSpeaker，“howareyou，Mr。Crewe，howareyou？It\'sonlyoneofManning\'slittlejokes。“

“That\'sallright，General，“saidMr。Crewe，“Ihaven\'tbeenadirectorinrailroadsfornothing。I\'mnotasgreenashethinks。AmI，Mr。

Manning？“

“Itneverstruckmethatgreenwasyourcolour，Mr。Crewe，“answeredthedivisionsuperintendent，smilingalittleashetoretheticketsintobitsandputtheminthewaste-basket。

“Well，“saidMr。Crewe，“youneedn\'thavetorn\'emuponmyaccount。I

travelonthepasswhichtheNortheasterngivesmeasalegislator，andI\'mthinkingseriouslyofgettingMr。Flinttosendmeanannual，nowthatI\'minpoliticsandhavetocovertheState。“

“Wethoughtyouwereareformer，Mr。Crewe，“theHonourableBrushBascomremarked。

“Iamapracticalman，“saidMr。Crewe；“arailroadman，abusinessmarkandassuchItrytoseethingsastheyare。“

“Well，“saidGeneralDoby，whobythistimehadregainedhisusualgenialairofcomposure，I\'mgladyousaidthat，Mr。Crewe。Asthesegentlemenwilltellyou，ifI\'dhadmywishI\'dhavehadyouoneveryimportantcommitteeintheHouse。“

“Chairmanofeveryimportantcommittee，General，“correctedtheHonourableJacobBotcher。

“Yes，chairmanof\'em，“assentedthegeneral，afteraglanceatMr。

Crewe\'scountenancetoseehowthisstatementfared。“Butthefactis，theboysarealljealousofyou——onthequiet。Isupposeyoususpectedsomethingofthekind。“

“Ishouldhaveimaginedtheremightbesomelittlefeeling，“Mr。Creweassentedmodestly。

“Exactly，“criedthegeneral，“andIhadtocombatthatfeelingwhenI

insisteduponputtingyouattheheadofNationalAffairs。Itdoesnotdoforanewmember，whateverhisprominenceinthefinancialworld，tobepushedforwardtooquickly。AndunlessIammightymistaken，Mr。

Crewe，“headded，withhishandonthenewmember\'sshoulder，“youwillmakeyourselffeltwithoutanyboostingfromme。“

“Ididnotcomeheretoremainidle，General，“answeredMr。Crewe，considerablymollified。

“Certainlynot，“saidthegeneral，“andIsaytosomeofthosemen，\'KeepyoureyeonthegentlemanwhoisChairmanofNationalAffairs。\'“

Afteralittlemoreofthisdesultoryandpleasanttalk，duringwhichrecoursewas，hadtothebathroomforseveraltallandthinglassesrangedontheshelfthere，Mr。Crewetookhisdepartureinamostequableframeofmind。Andwhenthedoorwasclosedandlockedbehindhim，Mr。

Manningdippedhispenintheink，oncemoreproducedfromadrawerinthetablethesalmon-colouredtickets，andglancedagainatthegeneralwithasmile。

“ForMr。SpeakerandMrs。SpeakerandallthelittleSpeakers，toNewYorkandreturn。“

EndofMr。Crewe\'sCareer，V1

byWinstonChurchillMR。CREWE\'SCAREER

byWinstonChurchillBOOK2。