Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/218

Rh “I do feel sure you know—about the treatment of the hands and all that; but you said yourself once—the ﬁrst time we ever talked about Westmore—that the business part was different"

Here it was again, the ancient ineradicable belief in the separable body and soul! Even an industrial organization was supposed to be subject to the old theological distinction, and Bessy was ready to co-operate with her husband in the emancipation of Westmore’s spiritual part if only its body remained under the law.

Amherst controlled his impatience, as it was always easy for him to do when he had ﬁxed on a deﬁnite line of conduct.

“It was my situation that was different; not what you call the business part. That is inextricably bound up with the treatment of the hands. If I am to have anything to do with the mills now I can deal with them only as your representative; and as such I am bound to take in the whole question.”

Bessy’s face clouded: was he going into it all again? But he read her look and went on reassuringly: “That was what I meant by saying that I hoped you would take me on faith. If I want the welfare of Westmore it’s above all, I believe, because I want Westmore to see you as I do—as the dispenser of happiness, who could not endure to beneﬁt by any wrong or injustice to others.” [ 202 ]