He could have done without them if he had been allowed a fair chance. But in the first place, there was Wrentham’s frankly declared objection that the scheme was all nonsense, and could never succeed until all men ceased to be greedy or lazy. And then there was the hardest blow of all to Philip in the sudden change which came over Caleb Kersey.
Caleb had entered upon the work with an enthusiasm as strong as that of Philip himself, although not so openly expressed. There was a glow of hopefulness and happiness on his honest brown face when Philip first laid the plans before him. Here was the Utopia of which he had vaguely dreamed: here was the chance for poor men to take their place in the social sphere according to their capacities and without regard to the conditions under which they started. Here was the chance for every man to have his fair share of the world’s wealth.
‘I hadn’t the means to work it out as you have, sir, but my notion has always been something of the kind that you have got into ship-shape form. I’ll try to help you.’
And he kept his word. There was no more earnest worker on Shield’s Land (that was the name Philip had given to the estate he purchased) than Caleb. Example, advice, and suggestions of the practical advantage each man would secure if he faithfully followed out the rules Philip had laid down, were given by him to all his fellow-workmen.
Suddenly the enthusiasm disappeared. The light seemed to fade from his eyes; and Caleb, who had been the sustaining force of the workers, became dull and listless.
About Wrentham’s opposition there was a degree of lightness; as if one should say, ‘Just as you please, sir; I don’t believe in it, but I am entirely at your command,’ which did not affect personal intercourse. With Caleb it was the reverse, because he felt more deeply. Wrentham could be at his ease because he regarded the whole affair as a matter of business out of which he was to make some money. Caleb thought only of the possibilities the scheme suggested of the future of the workman.
Philip had given up all hope of persuading Wrentham to believe in his theories; but he could not give up Caleb. So he resolved to speak to him.
‘What is wrong, Kersey? You have not lost heart because those fellows have left us?’
‘No, not because of that’ (hesitatingly and slowly); ‘but they were not so much to blame in leaving us as you may think, sir.’
‘What do you mean?’