Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 2 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/168

THE AMERICAN stockholder on his favourite railroad. You make me feel awfully my want of shares. And yet the world used to be supposed to be ours. What is it I miss?"

"It's the proud consciousness of honest toil, of having produced something yourself that somebody has been willing to pay you for—since that's the definite measure. Since you speak of my wash-tubs—which were lovely—is n't it just they and their loveliness that make up my good conscience?"

"Oh no; I've seen men who had gone beyond wash-tubs, who had made mountains of soap—strong-smelling yellow soap, in great bars; and they've left me perfectly cold."

"Then it's just the regular treat of being an American citizen," said Newman. "That sets a man right up."

"Possibly," his guest returned; "but I'm forced to say I've seen a great many American citizens who did n't seem at all set up or in the least like large stockholders. I never envied them. I rather think the thing's some diabolical secret of your own."

"Oh come," Newman laughed, "you'll persuade me against my humility."

"No, I shall persuade you of nothing. You've nothing to do with humility any more than with swagger: that's just the essence of your confounded coolness. People swagger only when they've something to lose, and show their delicacy only when they've something to gain."

"I don't know what I may have to lose," said Newman, "but I can quite see a situation in which I should have something to gain." 138