CHAPTER XIV

Mr.Clactonwasinhisglory.Themachinerywhichhehadperfectedandcontrolledwasnowabouttoturnoutitsbi-monthlyproduct,acommitteemeetingandhisprideintheperfectstructureoftheseassemblieswasgreat.Helovedthejargonofcommittee-roomshelovedthewayinwhichthedoorkeptopeningastheclockstruckthehour,inobediencetoafewstrokesofhispenonapieceofpaperandwhenithadopenedsufficientlyoften,helovedtoissuefromhisinnerchamberwithdocumentsinhishands,visiblyimportant,withapreoccupiedexpressiononhisfacethatmighthavesuitedaPrimeMinisteradvancingtomeethisCabinet.Byhisordersthetablehadbeendecoratedbeforehandwithsixsheetsofblotting-paper,withsixpens,sixink-pots,atumblerandajugofwater,abell,and,indeferencetothetasteoftheladymembers,avaseofhardychrysanthemums.Hehadalreadysurreptitiouslystraightenedthesheetsofblotting-paperinrelationtotheink-pots,andnowstoodinfrontofthefireengagedinconversationwithMissMarkham.Buthiseyewasonthedoor,andwhenMaryandMrs.Sealentered,hegavealittlelaughandobservedtotheassemblywhichwasscatteredabouttheroom: “Ifancy,ladiesandgentlemen,thatwearereadytocommence.” Sospeaking,hetookhisseatattheheadofthetable,andarrangingonebundleofpapersuponhisrightandanotheruponhisleft,calleduponMissDatchettoreadtheminutesofthepreviousmeeting.Maryobeyed.Akeenobservermighthavewonderedwhyitwasnecessaryforthesecretarytoknitherbrowssocloselyoverthetolerablymatter-of-factstatementbeforeher.CouldtherebeanydoubtinhermindthatithadbeenresolvedtocircularizetheprovinceswithLeafletNo.3,ortoissueastatisticaldiagramshowingtheproportionofmarriedwomentospinstersinNewZealandorthatthenetprofitsofMrs.Hipsley’sBazaarhadreachedatotaloffivepoundseightshillingsandtwopencehalf-penny? Couldanydoubtastotheperfectsenseandproprietyofthesestatementsbedisturbingher?Noonecouldhaveguessed,fromthelookofher,thatshewasdisturbedatall.ApleasanterandsanerwomanthanMaryDatchetwasneverseenwithinacommittee-room.Sheseemedacompoundoftheautumnleavesandthewintersunshinelesspoeticallyspeaking,sheshowedbothgentlenessandstrength,anindefinablepromiseofsoftmaternityblendingwithherevidentfitnessforhonestlabor.Nevertheless,shehadgreatdifficultyinreducinghermindtoobedienceandherreadinglackedconviction,asif,aswasindeedthecase,shehadlostthepowerofvisualizingwhatsheread.Anddirectlythelistwascompleted,hermindfloatedtoLincoln’sInnFieldsandtheflutteringwingsofinnumerablesparrows.WasRalphstillenticingthebald-headedcock-sparrowtosituponhishand?Hadhesucceeded?Wouldheeversucceed?ShehadmeanttoaskhimwhyitisthatthesparrowsinLincoln’sInnFieldsaretamerthanthesparrowsinHydePark—perhapsitisthatthepassers-byarerarer,andtheycometorecognizetheirbenefactors.Forthefirsthalf-hourofthecommitteemeeting,MaryhadthustodobattlewiththeskepticalpresenceofRalphDenham,whothreatenedtohaveitallhisownway.Marytriedhalfadozenmethodsofoustinghim.Sheraisedhervoice,shearticulateddistinctly,shelookedfirmlyatMr.Clacton’sbaldhead,shebegantowriteanote.Toherannoyance,herpencildrewalittleroundfigureontheblotting-paper,which,shecouldnotdeny,wasreallyabald-headedcock-sparrow.ShelookedagainatMr.Clactonyes,hewasbald,andsoarecock-sparrows.Neverwasasecretarytormentedbysomanyunsuitablesuggestions,andtheyallcame,alas!withsomethingludicrouslygrotesqueaboutthem,whichmight,atanymoment,provokehertosuchflippancyaswouldshockhercolleaguesforever.Thethoughtofwhatshemightsaymadeherbiteherlips,asifherlipswouldprotecther. Butallthesesuggestionswerebutflotsamandjetsamcasttothesurfacebyamoreprofounddisturbance,which,asshecouldnotconsideritatpresent,manifesteditsexistencebythesegrotesquenodsandbeckonings.Considerit,shemust,whenthecommitteewasover.Meanwhile,shewasbehavingscandalouslyshewaslookingoutofthewindow,andthinkingofthecolorofthesky,andofthedecorationsontheImperialHotel,whensheoughttohavebeenshepherdinghercolleagues,andpinningthemdowntothematterinhand.Shecouldnotbringherselftoattachmoreweighttooneprojectthantoanother.Ralphhadsaid—shecouldnotstoptoconsiderwhathehadsaid,buthehadsomehowdivestedtheproceedingsofallreality.Andthen,withoutconsciouseffort,bysometrickofthebrain,shefoundherselfbecominginterestedinsomeschemefororganizinganewspapercampaign.Certainarticles