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Scherer's subsidiary companies in another state； with property and assets
amounting to more than twenty millions； reorganized under the laws of New
Jersey； and the pending case thus transferred to the Federal court； where
we won hands down！ This Galligan affair was nothing to that。
Nevertheless； it was annoying。 As I sat in the street car on my way
homeward； a man beside me was reading the Pilot。 I had a queer sensation
as he turned the page； and scanned the editorial； and I could not help
wondering what he and the thousands like him thought of me； what he would
say if I introduced myself and asked his opinion。 Perhaps he did not
think at all： undoubtedly he； and the public at large； were used to Mr。
Lawler's daily display of 〃injustices。〃 Nevertheless； like slow acid；
they must be eating into the public consciousness。 It was an outrage
this freedom of the press。
With renewed exasperation I thought of Krebs； of his disturbing and
almost uncanny faculty of following me up。 Why couldn't he have remained
in Elkington？ Why did he have to follow me here； to make capital out of
a case that might never have been heard of except for him？。。。 I was still
in this disagreeable frame of mind when I turned the corner by my house
and caught sight of Maude； in the front yard； bending bareheaded over a
bed of late flowers which the frost had spared。 The evening was sharp；
the dusk already gathering。
〃You'll catch cold；〃 I called to her。
She looked up at the sound of my voice。
〃They'll soon be gone；〃 she sighed； referring to the flowers。 〃I hate
winter。〃
She put her hand through my arm； and we went into the house。 The
curtains were drawn； a fire was crackling on the hearth； the lamps were
lighted； and as I dropped into a chair this living…room of ours seemed to
take on the air of a refuge from the vague； threatening sinister things
of the world without。 I felt I had never valued it before。 Maude took
up her sewing and sat down beside the table。
〃Hugh；〃 she said suddenly； 〃I read something in the newspaper〃
My exasperation flared up again。
〃Where did you get that disreputable sheet？〃 I demanded。
〃At the dressmaker's！〃 she answered。 〃II just happened to see the
name； Paret。〃
〃It's just politics；〃 I declared； 〃stirring up discontent by
misrepresentation。 Jealousy。〃
She leaned forward in her chair； gazing into the flames。
〃Then it isn't true that this poor man； Galliganisn't that his name？
was cheated out of the damages he ought to have to keep himself and his
family alive？〃
〃You must have been talking to Perry or Susan；〃 I said。 〃They seem to be
convinced that I am an oppressor of the poor。
〃Hugh！〃 The tone in which she spoke my name smote me。 〃How can you say
that？ How can you doubt their loyalty； and mine？ Do you think they
would undermine you； and to me； behind your back？〃
〃I didn't mean that； of course； Maude。 I was annoyed about something
else。 And Tom and Perry have an air of deprecating most of the
enterprises in which I am professionally engaged。 It's very well for
them to talk。 All Perry has to do is to sit back and take in receipts
from the Boyne Street car line； and Tom is content if he gets a few
commissions every week。 They're like militiamen criticizing soldiers
under fire。 I know they're good friends of mine； but sometimes I lose
patience with them。〃
I got up and walked to the window； and came back again and stood before
her。
〃I'm sorry for this man； Galligan；〃 I went on； 〃I can't tell you how
sorry。 But few people who are not on the inside； so to speak； grasp the
fact that big corporations； like the Railroad； are looked upon as fair
game for every kind of parasite。 Not a day passes in which attempts are
not made to bleed them。 Some of these cases are pathetic。 It had cost
the Railroad many times fifteen thousand dollars to fight Galligan's
case。 But if they had paid it； they would have laid themselves open to
thousands of similar demands。 Dividends would dwindle。 The stockholders
have a right to a fair return on their money。 Galligan claims that there
was a defective sill on the car which is said to have caused the wreck。
If damages are paid on that basis； it means the daily inspection of every
car which passes over their lines。 And more than that： there are certain
defects； as in the present case； which an inspection would not reveal。
When a man accepts employment on a railroad he assumes a certain amount
of personal risk；it's not precisely a chambermaid's job。 And the
lawyer who defends such cases； whatever his personal feelings may be；
cannot afford to be swayed by them。 He must take the larger view。〃
〃Why didn't you tell me about it before？〃 she asked。
〃Well； I didn't think it of enough importancethese things are all in
the day's work。〃
〃But Mr。 Krebs？ How strange that he should be here； connected with the
case！〃
I made an effort to control myself。
〃Your old friend；〃 I said。 〃I believe you have a sentiment about him。〃
She looked up at me。
〃Scarcely that；〃 she replied gravely； with the literalness that often
characterized her； 〃but he isn't a person easily forgotten。 He may be
queer； one may not agree with his views； but after the experience I had
with him I've never been able to look at him in the way George does； for
instance； or even as father does。〃
〃Or even as I do；〃 I supplied。
〃Well； perhaps not even as you do；〃 she answered calmly。 〃I believe you
once told me； however； that you thought him a fanatic； but sincere。〃
〃He's certainly a fanatic！〃 I exclaimed。
〃But sincere； Hugh…you still think him sincere。〃
〃You seem a good deal concerned about a man you've laid eyes on but
once。〃
She considered this。
〃Yes； it is surprising；〃 she admitted； 〃but it's true。 I was sorry for
him； but I admired him。 I was not only impressed by his courage in
taking charge of me； but also by the trust and affection the work…people
showed。 He must be a good man； however mistaken he may be in the methods
he employs。 And life is cruel to those people。〃
〃Life is…life；〃 I observed。 〃Neither you nor I nor Krebs is able to
change it。〃
〃Has he come here to practice？〃 she asked； after a moment。
〃Yes。 Do you want me to invite him to dinner？〃 and seeing that she did
not reply I continued： 〃In spite of my explanation I suppose you think；
because Krebs defended the man Galligan； that a monstrous injustice has
been done。〃
〃That is unworthy of you；〃 she said； bending over her stitch。
I began to pace the room again； as was my habit when overwrought。
〃Well； I was going to tell you about this affair if you had not
forestalled me by mentioning it yourself。 It isn't pleasant to be
vilified by rascals who make capital out of vilification； and a man has a
right to expect some sympathy from his wife。〃
〃Did I ever deny you that； Hugh？〃 she asked。 〃Only you don't ever seem
to need it； to want it。〃
〃And there are things；〃 I pursued； 〃things in a man's province that a
woman ought to accept from her husband； things which in the very nature
of the case she can know nothing about。〃
〃But a woman must think for herself；〃 she declared。 〃She shouldn't
become a mere automaton；and these questions involve so much！ People
are discussing them； the magazines and periodicals are beginning to take
them up。〃
I stared at her； somewhat appalled by this point of view。 There had；
indeed； been signs of its development before now； but I had not heeded
them。 And for the first time I beheld Maude in a new light。
〃Oh； it's not that I don't trust you；〃 she continued； 〃I'm open to
conviction； but I must be convinced。 Your explanation of this Galligan
case seems a sensible one； although it's depressing。 But life is hard
and depressing sometimes I've come to realize that。 I want to think over
what you've said； I want to talk over it some more。 Why won't you tell
me more of what you are doing？ If you only would confide in meas you
have now！ I can't help seeing that we are growing farther and farther
apart； that business； your career； is taking all of you and leaving me
nothing。〃 She faltered； and went on again。 〃It's difficult to tell you
thisyou never give me the chance。 And it's not for my sake alone； but
for yours； too。 You are growing more and more self…centred； surrounding
yourself with a hard shell。 You don't realize it； but Tom notices it；
Perry notices it； it hurts them； it's that they complain of。 Hugh！〃 she
cried appealingly； sensing my resentment； forestalling the words of
defence ready on my lips。 〃I know that you are busy； that many men
depend on you； it isn't that I'm not proud of you and your success； but
you don't understand what a woman craves；she doesn't want only to be a
good housekeeper； a good mother； but she wants to share a little； at any
rate； in the life of her husband； in his troubles as well as in his
successes。 She wants to be of some little use； of some little help to
him。〃
My feelings were reduced to a medley。
〃But you are a help to mea great help；〃 I protested。
She shook her head。 〃I wish I were；〃 she said。
It suddenly occurred to me that she might be。 I was softened； and
alarmed b