"That's nonsense," but she smiled, too. Barring some exaggeration, she knew that his words were true.
"Even so," she urged seriously, "you have wandered enough. You might stay here for my sake."
"Mother, I will stay here for your sake."
"Only that, my son? You know I want more than that."
"Yes," he said, "you want too much. Let us have it out. Believe me, your pleasant dream of a political career for me is hopeless. Granted that I could buy my way to high office—though I do not think so—could I ever respect myself, or command respect? Where, then, would be the honor?"
"I never thought of buying."
"No, not in plain terms. But at my age, together with the fact that I am a stranger, at least a newcomer, in this State, money would be my only resource—perhaps a hopeless one, in any case. The rich man must learn his lesson, which is, that wealth bars the way to honor."
"Our senior Senator is rich."
"I do not speak of moderately rich men. Suspicion is even directed (unjustly, I believe) against such men. But the whole State knows that, politically, our Senator has risen from the ranks. Perhaps he has been compelled to buy that which is his due—who can tell? But all know that at least he has earned the distinction he has won."
"And could you not earn it?"