CHAPTER XV

ainedher,butitwaspleasanttolistentohimnow,andtowatchhisthickbrownmoustacheandhighforeheadconfrontingthestars.ButHelenwasnettled.TheaimoftheirdebatessheimpliedwasTruth. “Ohyes,itdoesn’tmuchmatterwhatsubjectyoutake,”saidhe. Margaretlaughedandsaid,“Butthisisgoingtobefarbetterthanthedebateitself.”Helenrecoveredherselfandlaughedtoo.“No,Iwon’tgoon,”shedeclared.“I’lljustputourspecialcasetoMr.Wilcox.” “AboutMr.Bast?Yes,do.He’llbemorelenienttoaspecialcase.” “But,Mr.Wilcox,dofirstlightanothercigarette.It’sthis.We’vejustcomeacrossayoungfellow,who’sevidentlyverypoor,andwhoseemsinterest—” “What’shisprofession?” “Clerk.” “Whatin?” “Doyouremember,Margaret?” “PorphyrionFireInsuranceCompany.” “OhyesthenicepeoplewhogaveAuntJuleyanewhearthrug.Heseemsinteresting,insomewaysvery,andonewishesonecouldhelphim.Heismarriedtoawifewhomhedoesn’tseemtocareformuch.Helikesbooks,andwhatonemayroughlycalladventure,andifhehadachance—Butheissopoor.Helivesalifewhereallthemoneyisapttogoonnonsenseandclothes.Oneissoafraidthatcircumstanceswillbetoostrongforhimandthathewillsink.Well,hegotmixedupinourdebate.Hewasn’tthesubjectofit,butitseemedtobearonhispoint.Supposeamillionairedied,anddesiredtoleavemoneytohelpsuchaman.Howshouldhebehelped?Shouldhebegiventhreehundredpoundsayeardirect,whichwasMargaret’splan?Mostofthemthoughtthiswouldpauperisehim.Shouldheandthoselikehimbegivenfreelibraries?Isaid‘No!’Hedoesn’twantmorebookstoread,buttoreadbooksrightly.Mysuggestionwasheshouldbegivensomethingeveryyeartowardsasummerholiday,butthenthereishiswife,andtheysaidshewouldhavetogotoo.Nothingseemedquiteright!Nowwhatdoyouthink?Imaginethatyouwereamillionaire,andwantedtohelpthepoor.Whatwouldyoudo?” Mr.Wilcox,whosefortunewasnotsoveryfarbelowthestandardindicated,laughedexuberantly.“MydearMissSchlegel,Iwillnotrushinwhereyoursexhasbeenunabletotread.Iwillnotaddanotherplantothenumerousexcellentonesthathavebeenalreadysuggested.Myonlycontributionisthis:letyouryoungfriendclearoutofthePorphyrionFireInsuranceCompanywithallpossiblespeed.” “Why?”saidMargaret. Heloweredhisvoice.“Thisisbetweenfriends.It’llbeintheReceiver’shandsbeforeChristmas.It’llsmash,”headded,thinkingthatshehadnotunderstood. “Dearme,Helen,listentothat.Andhe’llhavetogetanotherplace!” “WILLhave?Lethimleavetheshipbeforeitsinks.Lethimgetonenow.” “Ratherthanwait,tomakesure?” “Decidedly.” “Why’sthat?” AgaintheOlympianlaugh,andtheloweredvoice.“Naturallythemanwho’sinasituationwhenheappliesstandsabetterchance,isinastrongerposition,thatthemanwhoisn’t.Itlooksasifhe’sworthsomething.Iknowbymyself—(thisislettingyouintotheStatesecrets)—itaffectsanemployergreatly.Humannature,I’mafraid.” “Ihadn’tthoughtofthat,”murmuredMargaret,whileHelensaid,“Ourhumannatureappearstobetheotherwayround.Weemploypeoplebecausethey’reunemployed.Thebootman,forinstance.” “Andhowdoeshecleantheboots?” “Notwell,”confessedMargaret. “Thereyouare!” “Thendoyoureallyadviseustotellthisyouth—?” “Iadvisenothing,”heinterrupted,glancingupanddowntheEmbankment,incasehisindiscretionhadbeenoverheard.“Ioughtn’ttohavespoken—butIhappentoknow,beingmoreorlessbehindthescenes.ThePorphyrion’sabad,badconcern—Now,don’tsayIsaidso.It’soutsidetheTariffRing.” “CertainlyIwon’tsay.Infact,Idon’tknowwhatthatmeans.” “Ithoughtaninsurancecompanyneversmashed,”wasHelen’scontribution.“Don’ttheothersalwaysruninandsavethem?” “You’rethinkingofreinsurance,”saidMr.Wilcoxmildly.“ItisexactlytherethatthePorphyrionisweak.Ithastriedtoundercut,hasbeenbadlyhitbyalongseriesofsmallfires,andithasn’tbeenabletoreinsure.I’mafraidthatpubliccompaniesdon’tsaveoneanotherforlove.” “‘Humannature,’Isuppose,”quotedHelen,andhelaughedandagreedtha