Page:Despotism and democracy; a study in Washington society and politics (IA despotismdemocra00seawiala).pdf/207

 the first time Constance Maitland had ever seen Mrs. Baldwin unbend from her cold stateliness.

The kindness of her greeting seemed to inspire Senator Mulligan with the greatest enthusiasm.

"A better man than your father, Dan Hogan, never lived," proclaimed Mr. Mulligan, addressing the circle, "and it's the training I got with him that's made my fortune. 'Dale square, Mike,' Dan Hogan would say—he had a beautiful brogue on him—'and give the widders and the orphans the turn of the scale when you're sellin' 'em sugar and starch and such.' And I've done it, Nora, in memory of good old Dan Hogan—and if any man says it's impossible to keep a corner grocery and be honest, I say to 'em—'It's Danny Hogan, it is, that was the honest man and kept the corner grocery.'"

Mrs. Baldwin's face grew softer and softer as Mr. Mulligan proceeded. She was so great a lover of charity and had such beautiful humility of spirit that the idea of her father's example having moulded a man into a like charity gave her the deepest gratitude and pleasure; and if pride had owned a lodgment in her heart she would have been proud at that moment.