“And I am going to help my father,” said Knight. “He is a manufacturer.”
“But his son does not wish to be a manufacturer,” said Dallington, significantly. “He hopes to talk the people of England round to his ideas.”
Knight’s face flushed almost painfully. “We cannot always alter circumstances,” he said; “but I confess that there is to me a marvellous fascination in a listening crowd. There is, however, no lack of orators in England.”
“A new man who has something to say, and knows how to say it, has always his chance, though,” said Miss Wentworth.
What his dreams had been by night and day the young man did not tell. He said, “My father’s business is a large one. I have some ideas on the subject of heads and hands, or masters and men; and hope I may have the opportunity of putting them into practice.”
“Oh! surely you have not been abroad to learn Socialism. We English people are afraid of that,” said Miss Wentworth.
“And yet many are dissatisfied with things as they are.”
“Certainly, and they have need to be. Side by side with all the good there are evils of which every decent person is utterly ashamed.”
“Then why do the decent people allow them to exist?”
“I suppose they cannot help it.”