CHAPTER II. CLAYTON.

etinbeyondyourdepth." "Youaretoolate,Russel,forthat—Iamin." "Well,then,goodlucktoyou,mydearfellow!Andnow,asweareaboutit,ImayaswelltellyouthatI'minforit,too.IsupposeyouhaveheardofMissBenoir,ofBaltimore.Well,sheismyfate." "Andareyoureallyengaged?" "Allsignedandsealed,andtobedeliverednextChristmas." "Let'shearabouther." "Well,sheisofagoodheight(IalwayssaidIshouldn'tmarryashortwoman),—nothandsome,butreasonablywell-looking—veryfinemanners—knowstheworld—playsandsingshandsomely—hasasnuglittlefortune.Now,youknowIneverheldtomarryingformoneyandnothingelsebutthen,asI'msituated,Icouldnothavefalleninlovewithoutthatrequisite.Somepeoplecallthisheartless.Idon'tthinkitis.IfIhadmetMaryBenoir,andhadknownthatshehadn'tanything,why,Ishouldhaveknownthatitwouldn'tdoformeatalltocultivateanyparticularintimacybut,knowingshehadfortune,Ilookedalittlefurther,andfoundshehadotherthingstoo.Now,ifthat'smarryingformoney,sobeit.Yours,Clayton,isagenuinecaseoffallinginlove.But,asforme,Iwalkedinwithmyeyeswideopen." "Andwhatareyougoingtodowithyourselfintheworld,Russel?" "Imustgetintopractice,andgetsomefootholdthere,youknowandthen,heyforWashington!—I'mtobepresident,likeeveryotheradventurerintheseUnitedStates.WhynotI,aswellasanotherman?" "Idon'tknow,certainly,"saidClayton,"ifyouwantit,andarewillingtoworkhardenoughandlongenough,andpayalltheprice.IwouldassoonspendmylifewalkingthedrawnswordwhichtheysayisthebridgetoMahomet'sparadise." "Ah!ah!IfancyIseeyoudoingit!Whatafigureyou'dmake,mydearfellow,balancingandposturingonthesword-blade,andmakinghorridwryfaces!YetIknowyou'dbeascomfortablethereasyouwouldinpoliticallife.Andyet,afterall,youaregreatlysuperiortomeineveryrespect.Itwouldbeathousandpitiesifsuchamanasyoucouldn'thavethemanagementofthings.Butournationalshiphastobenavigatedbysecond-ratefellows,Jerry-go-nimbles,likeme,simplybecausewearegoodindodgingandturning.Butthat'stheway.Sharp'stheword,andthesharpestwins." "Formypart,"saidClayton,"Ishallneverbewhattheworldcallsasuccessfulman.Thereseemstobeoneinscriptionwrittenovereverypassageofsuccessinlife,asfarasI'veseen,—'Whatshallitprofitamanifhegainthewholeworld,andlosehisownsoul?'" "Idon'tunderstandyou,Clayton." "Why,itseemstomejustthis.Asmattersaregoingonnowinourcountry,Imusteitherlowermystandardofrightandhonor,andsearmysoulinallitsnoblersensibilities,orImustbewhattheworldcallsanunsuccessfulman.Thereisnopathinlife,thatIknowof,wherehumbuggeryandfraudanddeceitarenotessentialtosuccess,—nonewhereamancanmakethepurityofhismoralnaturethefirstobject.IseeSatanstandingineveryavenue,saying,'AllthesethingswillIgivethee,ifthouwiltfalldownandworshipme.'" "Whydon'tyoutaketotheministry,then,Clayton,atonce,andputupapulpit-cushionandbigBiblebetweenyouandthefierydartsofthedevil?" "I'mafraidIshouldmeethimthere,too.Icouldnotgainarighttospeakinanypulpitwithoutsomeprofessionorpledgetospeakthisorthat,thatwouldbeasnaretomyconsciencebyandby.AtthedoorofeverypulpitImustswearalwaystofindtruthinacertainformulaandliving,prosperity,success,reputation,willallbepledgedonmyfindingitthere.ItellyouIshould,ifIfollowedmyownconscience,preachmyselfoutofpulpitsquickerthanIshouldpleadoutatthebar." "Lordhelpyou,Clayton!Whatwillyoudo?Willyousettledownonyourplantation,andraisecottonandsellniggers?I'mexpectingtohear,everyminute,thatyou'vesubscribedforthe'Liberator,'andaregoingtoturnAbolitionist." "Idomeantosettledownonmyplantation,butnottoraisecottonornegroesasachiefendofman.Idotakethe'Liberator,'becauseI'mafreeman,andhavearighttotakewhatIhaveamindto.Idon'tagreewithGarrison,becauseIthinkIknowmoreaboutthematter,whereIstand,thanhedoes,orcan,wherehestands.Butit'shisright,asanhonestman,tosaywhathethinksandIshoulduseitinhisplace.IfIsawthingsashedoes,IshouldbeanAbolitionist.ButIdon't." "That'samercy,atleast,"saidR