Part 42 (2/2)

MADELINE: Why, you did, Uncle Felix. You said so. And if it's true that these strangers in our country are going to be abused because they're poor,-what else could I do with my money and not feel like a skunk?

FEJEVARY: (trying a different tack, laughing) Oh, you're a romantic girl, Madeline-skunk and all. Rather nice, at that. But the thing is perfectly fantastic, from every standpoint. You speak as if you had millions. And if you did, it wouldn't matter, not really. You are going against the spirit of this country; with or without money, that can't be done. Take a man like Professor Holden. He's radical in his sympathies-but does he run out and club the police?

MADELINE: (in a smouldering way) I thought America was a democracy.

FEJEVARY: We have just fought a great war for democracy.

MADELINE: Well, is that any reason for not having it?

FEJEVARY: I should think you would have a little emotion about the war-about America-when you consider where your brother is.

MADELINE: Fred had-all kinds of reasons for going to France. He wanted a trip. (answering his exclamation) Why, he said so. Heavens, Fred didn't make speeches about himself. Wanted to see Paris-poor kid, he never did see Paris. Wanted to be with a lot of fellows-knock the Kaiser's block off-end war, get a French girl. It was all mixed up-the way things are. But Fred was a pretty decent sort. I'll say so. He had such kind, honest eyes. (this has somehow said itself; her own eyes close and what her shut eyes see makes feeling hot) One thing I do know! Fred never went over the top and out to back up the argument you're making now!

FEJEVARY: (stiffly) Very well, I will discontinue the argument I'm making now. I've been trying to save you from-pretty serious things. The regret of having stood in the way of Morton College-(his voice falling) the horror of having driven your father insane.

MADELINE: What?

FEJEVARY: One more thing would do it. Just the other day I was talking with Professor Holden about your father. His idea of him relates back to the pioneer life-another price paid for this country. The lives back of him were too hard. Your great-grandmother Morton-the first white woman in this region-she dared too much, was too lonely, feared and bore too much. They did it, for the task gave them a courage for the task. But it-left a scar.

MADELINE: And father is that-(can hardly say it)-scar. (fighting the idea) But Grandfather Morton was not like that.

FEJEVARY: No; he had the vision of the future; he was robust with feeling for others. (gently) But Holden feels your father is the-dwarfed pioneer child. The way he concentrates on corn-excludes all else-as if unable to free himself from their old battle with the earth.

MADELINE: (almost crying) I think it's pretty terrible to-wish all that on poor father.

FEJEVARY: Well, my dear child, it's life has 'wished it on him'. It's just one other way of paying the price for his country. We needn't get it for nothing. I feel that all our chivalry should go to your father in his-heritage of loneliness.

MADELINE: Father couldn't always have been-dwarfed. Mother wouldn't have cared for him if he had always been-like that.

FEJEVARY: No, if he could have had love to live in. But no endurance for losing it. Too much had been endured just before life got to him.

MADELINE: Do you know, Uncle Felix-I'm afraid that's true? (he nods) Sometimes when I'm with father I feel those things near-the-the too much-the too hard,-feel them as you'd feel the cold. And now that it's different-easier-he can't come into the world that's been earned. Oh, I wish I could help him!

(As they sit there together, now for the first time really together, there is a shrill shout of derision from outside.)

MADELINE: What's that? (a whistled call) Horace! That's Horace's call. That's for his gang. Are they going to start something now that will get Atma in jail?

FEJEVARY: More likely he's trying to start something. (they are both listening intently) I don't think our boys will stand much more.

(A scoffing whoop. MADELINE springs to the window; he reaches it ahead and holds it.)

FEJEVARY: This window stays closed.

(She starts to go away, he takes hold of her.)

MADELINE: You think you can keep me in here?

<script>