Another
generation, and this class will be terribly extended, its existence
blighting the whole social state. Every one of these poor creatures
has a right to curse the work of those who clamour progress, and
pose as benefactors of their race.
'All that strikes me as very good and true,' remarked Hubert; 'but
can it be helped? Or do you refuse to believe in the modern
conception of laws ruling social development?'
'I wish I could do so. No; when I spoke of the right to curse, I
should have said, from their point of view. In truth, I fear we must
accept progress. But I cannot rejoice in it; I will even do what
little I can in my own corner to support the old order of things.
You may be aware that I was on very friendly terms with the
Mutimers, that I even seemed to encourage them in their Socialism.
Yes, and because I felt that in that way I could best discharge my
duty. What I really encouraged was sympathy and humanity. When
Mutimer came asking me to be present at his meetings I plainly
refused. To have held apart from him and his wife would have been as
wrong in me as to publicly countenance their politics.'
Mr. Wyvern was on the point of referring to his private reasons for
befriending Adela, but checked himself.
'What I made no secret of approving was their substitution of human
relations between employer and employed for the detestable "nexus of
cash payment," as Carlyle calls it.
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