“The people who have something to say are usually so,” you sighed.
“A drum must be empty to make a noise,” I said, smiling, “and perhaps the converse is true.”
I cannot say what there was in that walk which cheered me so, except your praise of my book,—sweeter far though that was than the world’s kindly opinion; yet over and above that, in our brief interchange of words, I was made conscious that there was sympathy between us,—a sympathy so positive that something like our old-time friendship seemed beginning. And the thought made me so happy that for a time my troubles were almost forgotten.
Good-night, Maizie.
XII
March 3. Fate seemed determined that our lives should be closely connected. In December Mr. Blodgett wrote asking me to call at his office, and he was already smiling when his boy passed me through the door at which so many had to tarry.
“There are a good many kinds of fools,” was his welcoming remark, “but one of the commonest is the brand who think because they can do one thing well, they ought to be able to do the exact opposite. I’ve known men who could grow rich out of brewing beer, who kept themselves poor through thinking they knew all about horses; I’ve known women who queened it in parlors, who went to smash because they believed themselves inspired actresses; I’ve sat here in this office thirty years, and grown rich through the belief of clergymen, doctors, merchants, farmers,—the whole box and dice,—that they were heaven-born financiers, and could play us Wall Street men even at our own game. Whatever else you do in this world, doctor, don’t think that because you can talk a dozen languages, they fit you to be a successful mute.”
“When you are in this mood, Mr. Blodgett, I can be nothing else,” I interpolated, as he paused a moment for breath.
“Alexander Whitely,” he went on, smiling, “probably knows more about petroleum and kerosene than any other man in the world, and he’s made himself rich by his knowledge. But it doesn’t satisfy him to be on the top of his own heap; he wants to get on the top of some other fellow’s. In short, he has an itch to be something he isn’t, and the darned fool’s gone and bought a daily newspaper with the idea that he is going to be a great editor!”