“I do not admit your right to question me on such a subject, Mrs. LeCord, but I shall not avoid a discussion of it. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that I were to contemplate marriage with Miss Bruce; if she and her relatives were agreeable, what right would anyone have to object?”
“It would be a great mistake,” Mrs. LeCord insisted, avoiding his question. “She is not in your class—”
“What do you mean by ‘class’?”
“Why, I mean socially, of course. She lives in a different world. She has no standing, in a social way. She works in an office for a living—”
“So do I,” he interrupted, “and your daughters do not. It would therefore appear that I am more in Miss Bruce’s ‘class’ than in theirs.”
“Ah, but you are an employer. You direct things. You work because you want to, not because you have to. That makes a difference.”
“Apparently it does. Well, if I had my way, everybody would work, whether he wanted to or not. I would not allow any healthy man to spend money which he had not earned by the sweat of his own brow. I am convinced that that is the only economic system which is sound at the bottom, but it would destroy ‘class,’ as at present organized, so ‘class’ must fight it.”
“I am afraid you are rather radical, Mr. Grant. You may be sure that a system which has served so long and so well is a good system.”
“That introduces the clash between East and West. The East says because things are so, and have always been so, they must be right. The West says because things are so, and have always been so, they are in all probability wrong. I guess I am a Westerner.”
“You should not allow your theories of economics to stand in the way of your success,” Mrs. LeCord pursued. “Suppose I admit that Caroline would not be altogether deaf to your advances. Suppose I admit that much. Allowing for a mother’s prejudice, will you not agree with me that Caroline has her attractions? She is well bred, well educated, and not without appearance. She belongs to the smartest set in town. Her circle would bring you not only social distinction, but valuable business connections. She would introduce that touch of refinement—”