More information about the architect's troubles than that provided by the press had got abroad in Forest Park and the Shoreham Club. It was well known, for instance, that Hart had been obliged to dissolve his partnership4 with Freddie Stewart, owing to grave business irregularities, which extended beyond his connection with the recent disaster. It was generally agreed that his offences must have been very grave indeed to necessitate5, at his age, with his influential6 connection, such a radical7 change of caste as had happened. Men commonly expressed their contempt because at a crisis he had shown such a deplorable "lack of nerve." They said, and among them were some of the architect's more intimate friends, that nothing he had done could justify8 this tame submission9. "Why!" Mrs. Phillips exclaimed when she heard of it, "we've seen men live down things ten times worse. There was Peter Sewall, and old Preston, and the banker Potts, and a dozen more. They are as good as any of us to-day! And he needn't have told everything he knew, anyhow, to that old coroner." The measure of a man's guilt10, in her eyes and those of many others, was what he was willing to admit to the world. "But it's that wife of his!" the widow continued bitterly. "She never had any spirit; she was cut out for a clerk's wife. I have always felt that she was responsible for Venetia's trouble. Well, she's got to her level at last!"
Finally, this portion of the great public held that under the circumstances the architect had shown singularly little judgment11 in staying on in the city: there was no "future" for him, under the circumstances, in Chicago. If he felt himself unable to hold his own against scandal, they argued, he should have the wit to leave the city where he had gone wrong and seek his fortune under new skies, where the faces of his successful friends would not remind him constantly of ignoble12 defeat.
Not that Jackson Hart had many opportunities of encountering his successful friends in the great city of Chicago. He had resigned from his club, and the Harts had moved very far away from the pleasant suburbs along the lake which were filled with their old acquaintances. They had gone to live in one of those flimsy flat-buildings in the southern part of the city, concerning which the architect had speculated the night the Glenmore was burned. It was near the street-car line, for the matter of a nickel fare was now of importance in their domestic economy. Occasionally, some one of the Forest Park ladies would report on her return from the city that she had run across Mrs. Hart at Steele's, "looking old and queerer than ever, dressed in the old things she wore out here, as if she didn't care whether school kept or not, poor thing!" But in the murky14 light of Steele's great shop, they could not have seen the serene15, almost radiant beauty of the woman's face, the beauty of a soul content with its vision of the world, in harmony with itself.
And Jackson, "reduced to the ranks" by a few grades, in that career of his, which he dubbed16 good-humoredly "From shirt-sleeves to shirt-sleeves, in three acts," was developing certain patient virtues17 of inestimable charm in the domestic circles of plain life, though not essential for brilliant success. In his box of an office next Wright's large draughting-room, he worked almost side by side with his former draughtsman Cook, who had also come back to the old firm. For some months they hardly spoke18 to each other; indeed, the men in Wright's generally held aloof19 from Hart. But they have accepted him at last. Cook has begun, even, to regain20 some of his old admiration21 for his chief, comprehending, perhaps, that in the office by his side there is slowly working out a career of real spiritual significance, if of little outward display.
As to Wright, who knows more of the man's real story than the others, he treats his old employee with a fine consideration and respect, realizing that this man is doing handsomely a thing that few men have the character to do at all. His admiration for Hart's work has grown, also, and he frankly22 admits that the younger man has a better talent for architecture than he himself ever possessed23, as well as great cleverness and ingenuity24, so necessary in an art which is intimately allied25 with mechanics. For it is true that after sluggish26 years there has revived within Hart the creative impulse, that spirit of the artist, inherent to some extent in all men, which makes the work of their hands an engrossing27 joy. The plans of a group of buildings, which the firm have undertaken for a university in a far Western state, have been entrusted28 very largely to Hart. As they grow from month to month in the voluminous sheets of drawings, they are becoming the pride of the office. And Wright generously allots29 the praise for their beauty where it largely belongs.
Thus the social waters of the fast-living city are rapidly rolling over the Jackson Harts. In all probability they will never again in this life come to the surface, and call for comment; for the architect and his wife have already sunk into the insignificance30 of the common lot, so much praised by the poets, so much despised by our good Americans of the "strenuous31" school. They have had their opportunities to better themselves in the worldly scale, but there has never been any question between husband and wife of a change in their social or material condition. They even contemplate32 with equanimity33 leaving their children in the universal struggle no better equipped than with the possession of health and a modest education,—there to meet their fate as their parents have done before them.
Almost the last public appearance of the Jackson Harts in that portion of the Chicago world which had formerly34 known them occurred at the elaborate dedicatory exercises of the JACKSON INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE. When the handsomely engraved36 invitation came to them, the architect was disinclined to attend; but Helen, who thought only of the old man's probable wish in the matter, induced her husband to take her. The exercises were held in the pretty little auditorium37 which occupied one wing of the large school building. There was much ceremony, and numerous speeches, besides the oration38 delivered by the director, Dr. Everest, on "Modern Industrialism," which was considered a masterpiece of its kind and was afterwards printed and circulated by the trustees. A bust39 of the founder40, which fronted the stage, was first unveiled amid great applause. Dr. Everest in the introduction of his oration turned from time to time to apostrophize its rugged41 marble features, while he paid his tribute to the founder of the institution. What the old man—who had always avoided voluble people like the pest—would have thought of the liberal eulogy42 scattered on his head, and of the eloquent43 discourse44 that followed, on the future of education and the working-man, no one will ever know. The rough old face looking inscrutably down on the little, bald-headed figure of the director gave no sign.
During the lengthy45 oration the architect's thoughts went wandering far astray back into his past, so closely involved with this handsome building. But Helen listened attentively46 to the director's flowing periods, searching his phrases for an interpretation47 of his purposes in regard to the school. Dr. Everest, however, was far too wary48 an educator to commit himself to positive ideas. Yet in the maze49 of his discourse there might be gathered hints of his attitude toward the problem of industrial education. After the opening tribute to the founder, "whom we may call a typical leader of our triumphant50 industrial democracy," the speaker dwelt glowingly on the advanced position of our country among the nations of the earth, attributing its phenomenal progress to the nature of its political and educational institutions, which had developed and encouraged the energies of such men as Powers Jackson:—
"We lead the nations of the world in the arts of peace, owing to the energy and genius of men like our noble benefactor51, owing, I may say, still more to the character of our institutions, political and educational, which produce such men as he was!" Then followed a flattering contrast between the "aristocratic and medi?val education" of the English universities and the older American colleges, and the broad, liberal spirit of newer institutions, especially technical schools. The intention of the founder of the Jackson Industrial Institute, he said, was to broaden the democratic ideal, "to bring within the reach of every child in this greatest of industrial metropoli, not only the rudiments52 of an education, but the most advanced technical training, by means of which he may raise himself among his fellows and advance the illimitable creative ingenuity of our race. Here will come the boy whose father labors53 at the bottom of the industrial ladder, and if he be worthy54, if he have the necessary talent and the industry, here in our workshops and laboratories he may fit himself to mount to the very top of that ladder, and become in turn a master and leader of men, like our great benefactor! And we may well believe that the sight of those benignant features will be an inspiration to the youth to strive even as he strove. That face will kindle55 the noble ambitions of the learner, who will remember that our good founder once labored56 with his own hands at the forge not far from this monument to his greatness, and that he rose by his own unaided industry and ability to command thousands of operatives, to control millions of capital, yes, to influence the wide industrial world!
"In America, thank God, the poor man may yet rise to a position of leadership, if he be worthy. And what the world needs to-day more than all else is leaders, leaders of men. May we not prophesy57 that the Jackson Industrial Institute will be a large factor, yes, the largest factor of this great city, in educating leaders, and thus assisting to put an end to that wasteful58 and distressing59 antagonism60 between capital and labor35? By the means of the education here provided, young men may raise themselves from the ranks of common labor to the position and responsibilities of capital! Let us hope that this will be the happy result of an educational foundation provided by a great captain of industry, and placed here in the heart of the workshops of Chicago. Thus may we assist in preserving and fostering the spirit of our noble institutions by means of which man is given freedom to reap the fruits of his own labor and intelligence!" ...
And Dr. Everest continued on this plane of eloquence61 for another half-hour, until even Judge Phillips, who had listened with rapt attention, began to nod in his chair. At last, when the doctor sat down, stroking his thick black beard and wiping his shining brow, loud applause broke forth62 from all parts of the auditorium. The applause sounded much like the ironic63 laughter of the gods over the travesty64 of the old man's purpose, to which they had just listened.
To Helen, especially, it seemed that no more complete twisting of his idea in thus bestowing65 his wealth were possible! However, the great school stands there, in the neighborhood where his old operatives live,—stands there and will stand there for many years, mistaken or not in its aims as one looks at this world of ours; and some day, maybe, when Dr. Everest has grasped some new form of the educational main chance, it may fall into other hands and become more nearly what its founder meant it to be,—a source of help and inspiration to the common man, who must labor all his days at common tasks, and can look to no material advancement66 in this life.
After the exercises the rooms of the building were thrown open for inspection67, and the guests strolled through the laboratories and workshops in little parties, discussing the oration and exclaiming over the magnificence of the appointments. The Harts wandered over the school with the rest, and the architect looked about him with a certain curiosity. As they returned to the main hall under the rotunda68, he exclaimed, peering up into the dome13, "Nell, I can't seem to remember this place: it looks queer and strange to me, as if somebody else had done the plans, and I had just looked over them!"
"Somebody else did do them," she answered, drawing him away from a group of people who had come out of one of the adjoining rooms.
In a little while they got their wraps and prepared to leave the institution, having a long journey before them to reach their home. As they crossed the entrance hall, they ran into Pemberton, who was alone. He bowed to Helen as though he meant to speak to her, and then catching69 sight of Jackson, who was behind her, he merely bent70 his head the fraction of an inch, and, stepping to one side, passed on. He could not, evidently, forgive a stain upon a man's honor, arrogating71 to himself, as so many of us do, the privileges of deity72. The architect's face flushed at the slight, and he hurried his steps toward the vestibule. As they passed through the broad doorway73, he said to his wife:—
"Well, Nell, I suppose I deserved it,—the old Turk!"
"No, you did not deserve it!" she replied swiftly. "But it makes no difference, dear!"
And, fortunately, there are few things that do make any great difference to real men and women,—and one of the least is the casual judgment of their fellow-men.
The End
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1
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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3
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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5
necessitate
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| v.使成为必要，需要 | |
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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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radical
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| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
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8
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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10
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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11
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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12
ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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14
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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15
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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16
dubbed
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| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
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17
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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18
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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21
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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engrossing
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| adj.使人全神贯注的，引人入胜的v.使全神贯注( engross的现在分词 ) | |
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28
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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allots
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的第三人称单数 ) | |
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30
insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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31
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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32
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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33
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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34
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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36
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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37
auditorium
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| n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂 | |
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38
oration
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| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
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39
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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40
Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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41
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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42
eulogy
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| n.颂词；颂扬 | |
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43
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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44
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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45
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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46
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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47
interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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48
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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49
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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50
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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51
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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52
rudiments
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| n.基础知识，入门 | |
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53
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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54
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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55
kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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56
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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57
prophesy
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| v.预言；预示 | |
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58
wasteful
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| adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的 | |
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59
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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60
antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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61
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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62
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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63
ironic
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| adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的 | |
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64
travesty
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| n.歪曲，嘲弄，滑稽化 | |
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65
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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66
advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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67
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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68
rotunda
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| n.圆形建筑物；圆厅 | |
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69
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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70
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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71
arrogating
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| v.冒称，妄取( arrogate的现在分词 )；没来由地把…归属（于） | |
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72
deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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