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it's likely you'll get one to…day。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Well； you see it's getting pretty late。 You can't always tell where
'bouts a man is when he's on the other side； and you can't always find
him just the minute you want him； and you see it's getting about six
o'clock now； and over there it's pretty late at night。〃
〃Why yes；〃 said Tracy； 〃I hadn't thought of that。〃
〃Yes； pretty late； now； half past ten or eleven。 Oh yes； you probably
won't get any answer to…night。〃
CHAPTER XIV。
So Tracy went home to supper。 The odors in that supper room seemed more
strenuous and more horrible than ever before； and he was happy in the
thought that he was so soon to be free from them again。 When the supper
was over he hardly knew whether he had eaten any of it or not； and he
certainly hadn't heard any of the conversation。 His heart had been
dancing all the time； his thoughts had been faraway from these things；
and in the visions of his mind the sumptuous appointments of his father's
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 o