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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 get
a chance to superintend a sausage…stuffer at six or eight dollars a week；
you just trade off the earldom for a last year's almanac and stick to the
sausage…stuffing；〃
CHAPTER XV。
Tracy went to bed happy once more； at rest in his mind once more。 He had
started out on a high emprisethat was to his credit； he argued； he had
fought the best fight he could； considering the odds against himthat
was to his credit； he had been defeatedcertainly there was nothing
discreditable in that。 Being defeated； he had a right to retire with the
honors of war and go back without prejudice to the position in the
world's society to which he had been born。 Why not？ even the rabid
republican chair…maker would do that。 Yes； his conscience was
comfortable once more。
He woke refreshed； happy； and eager for his cablegram。 He had been born
an aristocrat； he had been a democrat for a time； he was now an
aristocrat again。 He marveled to find that this final change was not
merely intellectual； it had invaded his feeling； and he also marveled to
note that this feeling seemed a good deal less artificial than any he had
entertained in his system for a long time。 He could also have noted；
if he had thought of it； that his bearing had stiffened； over night；
and that his chin had lifted itself a shade。 Arrived in the basement；
he was about to enter the breakfast room when he saw old Marsh in the dim
light of a corner of the hall； beckoning him with his finger to approach。
The blood welled slowly up in Tracy's cheek； and he said with a grade of
injured dignity almost ducal：
〃Is that for me？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What is the purpose of it？〃
〃I want to speak to you…in private。〃
〃This spot is private enough for me。〃
Marsh was surprised； and not particularly pleased。 He approached and
said：
〃Oh； in public； then； if you prefer。 Though it hasn't been my way。〃
The boarders gathered to the spot； interested。
〃Speak out；〃 said Tracy。 〃What is it you want？〃
〃Well； haven't youerforgot s