第18章

Andsheboremanychildren。For，astimewenton，sheneveropposedherhusbandinwordordeed。Shetooknonoticeofhim，externally。Shesubmittedtohim，lethimtakewhathewantedanddoashewantedwithher。Shewaslikeahawkthatsullenlysubmitstoeverything。Therelationbetweenherandherhusbandwaswordlessandunknown，butitwasdeep，awful，arelationofutterinter—destruction。Andhe，whotriumphedintheworld，hebecamemoreandmorehollowinhisvitality，thevitalitywasbledfromwithinhim，asbysomehaemorrhage。Shewashulkedlikeahawkinacage，butherheartwasfierceandundiminishedwithinher，thoughhermindwasdestroyed。

Sotothelasthewouldgotoherandholdherinhisarmssometimes，beforehisstrengthwasallgone。Theterriblewhite，destructivelightthatburnedinhereyesonlyexcitedandrousedhim。Tillhewasbledtodeath，andthenhedreadedhermorethananything。Buthealwayssaidtohimself，howhappyhehadbeen，howhehadlovedherwithapureandconsumingloveeversincehehadknownher。Andhethoughtofheraspure，chaste;

thewhiteflamewhichwasknowntohimalone，theflameofhersex，wasawhiteflowerofsnowtohismind。Shewasawonderfulwhitesnow—flower，whichhehaddesiredinfinitely。Andnowhewasdyingwithallhisideasandinterpretationsintact。Theywouldonlycollapsewhenthebreathlefthisbody。Tillthentheywouldbepuretruthsforhim。Onlydeathwouldshowtheperfectcompletenessofthelie。Tilldeath，shewashiswhitesnow—flower。Hehadsubduedher，andhersubjugationwastohimaninfinitechastityinher，avirginitywhichhecouldneverbreak，andwhichdominatedhimasbyaspell。

Shehadletgotheouterworld，butwithinherselfshewasunbrokenandunimpaired。Sheonlysatinherroomlikeamoping，dishevelledhawk，motionless，mindless。Herchildren，forwhomshehadbeensofierceinheryouth，nowmeantscarcelyanythingtoher。Shehadlostallthat，shewasquitebyherself。OnlyGerald，thegleaming，hadsomeexistenceforher。Butoflateyears，sincehehadbecomeheadofthebusiness，hetoowasforgotten。Whereasthefather，nowhewasdying，turnedforcompassiontoGerald。Therehadalwaysbeenoppositionbetweenthetwoofthem。Geraldhadfearedanddespisedhisfather，andtoagreatextenthadavoidedhimallthroughboyhoodandyoungmanhood。Andthefatherhadfeltveryoftenarealdislikeofhiseldestson，which，neverwantingtogivewayto，hehadrefusedtoacknowledge。HehadignoredGeraldasmuchaspossible，leavinghimalone。

Since，however，Geraldhadcomehomeandassumedresponsibilityinthefirm，andhadprovedsuchawonderfuldirector，thefather，tiredandwearyofalloutsideconcerns，hadputallhistrustofthesethingsinhisson，implicitly，leavingeverythingtohim，andassumingarathertouchingdependenceontheyoungenemy。ThisimmediatelyrousedapoignantpityandallegianceinGerald"sheart，alwaysshadowedbycontemptandbyunadmittedenmity。

ForGeraldwasinreactionagainstCharity;andyethewasdominatedbyit，itassumedsupremacyintheinnerlife，andhecouldnotconfuteit。

Sohewaspartlysubjecttothatwhichhisfatherstoodfor，buthewasinreactionagainstit。Nowhecouldnotsavehimself。Acertainpityandgriefandtendernessforhisfatherovercamehim，inspiteofthedeeper，moresullenhostility。

ThefatherwonshelterfromGeraldthroughcompassion。ButforlovehehadWinifred。Shewashisyoungestchild，shewastheonlyoneofhischildrenwhomhehadevercloselyloved。Andherhelovedwithallthegreat，overweening，shelteringloveofadyingman。Hewantedtoshelterherinfinitely，infinitely，towrapherinwarmthandloveandshelter，perfectly。Ifhecouldsavehersheshouldneverknowonepain，onegrief，onehurt。Hehadbeensorightallhislife，soconstantinhiskindnessandhisgoodness。Andthiswashislastpassionaterighteousness，hisloveforthechildWinifred。Somethingstroubledhimyet。Theworldhadpassedawayfromhim，ashisstrengthebbed。Therewerenomorepoorandinjuredandhumbletoprotectandsuccour。Thesewerealllosttohim。Therewerenomoresonsanddaughterstotroublehim，andtoweighonhimasanunnaturalresponsibility。ThesetoohadfadedoutofrealityAllthesethingshadfallenoutofhishands，andlefthimfree。

Thereremainedthecovertfearandhorrorofhiswife，asshesatmindlessandstrangeinherroom，orasshecameforthwithslow，prowlingstep，herheadbentforward。Butthisheputaway。Evenhislife—longrighteousness，however，wouldnotquitedeliverhimfromtheinnerhorror。Still，hecouldkeepitsufficientlyatbay。Itwouldneverbreakforthopenly。Deathwouldcomefirst。

ThentherewasWinifred！Ifonlyhecouldbesureabouther，ifonlyhecouldbesure。SincethedeathofDiana，andthedevelopmentofhisillness，hiscravingforsuretywithregardtoWinifredamountedalmosttoobsession。Itwasasif，evendying，hemusthavesomeanxiety，someresponsibilityoflove，ofCharity，uponhisheart。

Shewasanodd，sensitive，inflammablechild，havingherfather"sdarkhairandquietbearing，butbeingquitedetached，momentaneous。Shewaslikeachangelingindeed，asifherfeelingsdidnotmattertoher，really。

Sheoftenseemedtobetalkingandplayinglikethegayestandmostchildishofchildren，shewasfullofthewarmest，mostdelightfulaffectionforafewthings——forherfather，andforheranimalsinparticular。ButifsheheardthatherbelovedkittenLeohadbeenrunoverbythemotor—carsheputherheadononeside，andreplied，withafaintcontractionlikeresentmentonherface:`Hashe？"Thenshetooknomorenotice。Sheonlydislikedtheservantwhowouldforcebadnewsonher，andwantedhertobesorry。Shewishednottoknow，andthatseemedherchiefmotive。Sheavoidedhermother，andmostofthemembersofherfamily。ShelovedherDaddy，becausehewantedheralwaystobehappy，andbecauseheseemedtobecomeyoungagain，andirresponsibleinherpresence。ShelikedGerald，becausehewassoself—contained。Shelovedpeoplewhowouldmakelifeagameforher。Shehadanamazinginstinctivecriticalfaculty，andwasapureanarchist，apurearistocratatonce。Forsheacceptedherequalswherevershefoundthem，andsheignoredwithblitheindifferenceherinferiors，whethertheywereherbrothersandsisters，orwhethertheywerewealthyguestsofthehouse，orwhethertheywerethecommonpeopleortheservants。

Shewasquitesingleandbyherself，derivingfromnobody。Itwasasifshewerecutofffromallpurposeorcontinuity，andexistedsimplymomentbymoment。

Thefather，asbysomestrangefinalillusion，feltasifallhisfatedependedonhisensuringtoWinifredherhappiness。Shewhocouldneversuffer，becausesheneverformedvitalconnections，shewhocouldlosethedearestthingsofherlifeandbejustthesamethenextday，thewholememorydroppedout，asifdeliberately，shewhosewillwassostrangelyandeasilyfree，anarchistic，almostnihilistic，wholikeasoullessbirdflitsonitsownwill，withoutattachmentorresponsibilitybeyondthemoment，whoinhereverymotionsnappedthethreadsofseriousrelationshipwithblithe，freehands，reallynihilistic，becausenevertroubled，shemustbetheobjectofherfather"sfinalpassionatesolicitude。

WhenMrCrichheardthatGudrunBrangwenmightcometohelpWinifredwithherdrawingandmodellinghesawaroadtosalvationforhischild。

HebelievedthatWinifredhadtalent，hehadseenGudrun，heknewthatshewasanexceptionalperson。HecouldgiveWinifredintoherhandsasintothehandsofarightbeing。Herewasadirectionandapositiveforcetobelenttohischild，heneednotleaveherdirectionlessanddefenceless。

Ifhecouldbutgraftthegirlontosometreeofutterancebeforehedied，hewouldhavefulfilledhisresponsibility。Andhereitcouldbedone。

HedidnothesitatetoappealtoGudrun。

Meanwhile，asthefatherdriftedmoreandmoreoutoflife，Geraldexperiencedmoreandmoreasenseofexposure。Hisfatherafterallhadstoodforthelivingworldtohim。WhilsthisfatherlivedGeraldwasnotresponsiblefortheworld。Butnowhisfatherwaspassingaway，Geraldfoundhimselfleftexposedandunreadybeforethestormofliving，likethemutinousfirstmateofashipthathaslosthiscaptain，andwhoseesonlyaterriblechaosinfrontofhim。Hedidnotinheritanestablishedorderandalivingidea。Thewholeunifyingideaofmankindseemedtobedyingwithhisfather，thecentralisingforcethathadheldthewholetogetherseemedtocollapsewithhisfather，thepartswerereadytogoasunderinterribledisintegration。

Geraldwasasifleftonboardofashipthatwasgoingasunderbeneathhisfeet，hewasinchargeofavesselwhosetimberswereallcomingapart。

Heknewthatallhislifehehadbeenwrenchingattheframeoflifetobreakitapart。Andnow，withsomethingoftheterrorofadestructivechild，hesawhimselfonthepointofinheritinghisowndestruction。Andduringthelastmonths，undertheinfluenceofdeath，andofBirkin"stalk，andofGudrun"spenetratingbeing，hehadlostentirelythatmechanicalcertaintythathadbeenhistriumph。Sometimesspasmsofhatredcameoverhim，againstBirkinandGudrunandthatwholeset。Hewantedtogobacktothedullestconservatism，tothemoststupidofconventionalpeople。

HewantedtoreverttothestrictestToryism。Butthedesiredidnotlastlongenoughtocarryhimintoaction。

Duringhischildhoodandhisboyhoodhehadwantedasortofsavagedom。

ThedaysofHomerwerehisideal，whenamanwaschiefofanarmyofheroes，orspenthisyearsinwonderfulOdyssey。Hehatedremorselesslythecircumstancesofhisownlife，somuchthatheneverreallysawBeldoverandthecollieryvalley。HeturnedhisfaceentirelyawayfromtheblackenedminingregionthatstretchedawayontherighthandofShortlands，heturnedentirelytothecountryandthewoodsbeyondWilleyWater。ItwastruethatthepantingandrattlingofthecoalminescouldalwaysbeheardatShortlands。

Butfromhisearliestchildhood，Geraldhadpaidnoheedtothis。Hehadignoredthewholeoftheindustrialseawhichsurgedincoal—blackenedtidesagainstthegroundsofthehouse。Theworldwasreallyawildernesswhereonehuntedandswamandrode。Herebelledagainstallauthority。

Lifewasaconditionofsavagefreedom。

Thenhehadbeensentawaytoschool，whichwassomuchdeathtohim。

HerefusedtogotoOxford，choosingaGermanuniversity。HehadspentacertaintimeatBonn，atBerlin，andatFrankfurt。There，acuriosityhadbeenarousedinhismind。Hewantedtoseeandtoknow，inacuriousobjectivefashion，asifitwereanamusementtohim。Thenhemusttrywar。Thenhemusttravelintothesavageregionsthathadsoattractedhim。

Theresultwas，hefoundhumanityverymuchalikeeverywhere，andtoamindlikehis，curiousandcold，thesavagewasduller，lessexcitingthantheEuropean。Sohetookholdofallkindsofsociologicalideas，andideasofreform。Buttheyneverwentmorethanskin—deep，theywerenevermorethanamentalamusement。Theirinterestlaychieflyinthereactionagainstthepositiveorder，thedestructivereaction。

Hediscoveredatlastarealadventureinthecoal—mines。Hisfatheraskedhimtohelpinthefirm。Geraldhadbeeneducatedinthescienceofmining，andithadneverinterestedhim。Now，suddenly，withasortofexultation，helaidholdoftheworld。

Therewasimpressedphotographicallyonhisconsciousnessthegreatindustry。Suddenly，itwasreal，hewaspartofit。Downthevalleyranthecollieryrailway，linkingminewithmine。Downtherailwayranthetrains，shorttrainsofheavilyladentrucks，longtrainsofemptywagons，eachonebearinginbigwhiteletterstheinitials:

`C。B。&Co。"

Thesewhitelettersonallthewagonshehadseensincehisfirstchildhood，anditwasasifhehadneverseenthem，theyweresofamiliar，andsoignored。Nowatlasthesawhisownnamewrittenonthewall。Nowhehadavisionofpower。

Somanywagons，bearinghisinitial，runningalloverthecountry。HesawthemasheenteredLondoninthetrain，hesawthematDover。Sofarhispowerramified。HelookedatBeldover，atSelby，atWhatmore，atLethleyBank，thegreatcollieryvillageswhichdependedentirelyonhismines。

Theywerehideousandsordid，duringhischildhoodtheyhadbeensoresinhisconsciousness。Andnowhesawthemwithpride。Fourrawnewtowns，andmanyuglyindustrialhamletswerecrowdedunderhisdependence。Hesawthestreamofminersflowingalongthecausewaysfromtheminesattheendoftheafternoon，thousandsofblackened，slightlydistortedhumanbeingswithredmouths，allmovingsubjugatetohiswill。Hepushedslowlyinhismotor—carthroughthelittlemarket—toponFridaynightsinBeldover，throughasolidmassofhumanbeingsthatweremakingtheirpurchasesanddoingtheirweeklyspending。Theywereallsubordinatetohim。Theywereuglyanduncouth，buttheywerehisinstruments。HewastheGodofthemachine。Theymadewayforhismotor—carautomatically，slowly。

Hedidnotcarewhethertheymadewaywithalacrity，orgrudgingly。

Hedidnotcarewhattheythoughtofhim。Hisvisionhadsuddenlycrystallised。

Suddenlyhehadconceivedthepureinstrumentalityofmankind。Therehadbeensomuchhumanitarianism，somuchtalkofsufferingsandfeelings。

Itwasridiculous。Thesufferingsandfeelingsofindividualsdidnotmatterintheleast。Theyweremereconditions，liketheweather。Whatmatteredwasthepureinstrumentalityoftheindividual。Asamanasofaknife:

doesitcutwell？Nothingelsemattered。

Everythingintheworldhasitsfunction，andisgoodornotgoodinsofarasitfulfilsthisfunctionmoreorlessperfectly。Wasamineragoodminer？Thenhewascomplete。Wasamanageragoodmanager？Thatwasenough。Geraldhimself，whowasresponsibleforallthisindustry，washeagooddirector？Ifhewere，hehadfulfilledhislife。Therestwasby—play。

Themineswerethere，theywereold。Theyweregivingout，itdidnotpaytoworktheseams。Therewastalkofclosingdowntwoofthem。ItwasatthispointthatGeraldarrivedonthescene。

Helookedaround。Therelaythemines。Theywereold，obsolete。Theywerelikeoldlions，nomoregood。Helookedagain。Pah！themineswerenothingbuttheclumsyeffortsofimpureminds。Theretheylay，abortionsofahalf—trainedmind。Lettheideaofthembesweptaway。Heclearedhisbrainofthem，andthoughtonlyofthecoalintheunderearth。Howmuchwasthere？

Therewasplentyofcoal。Theoldworkingscouldnotgetatit，thatwasall。Thenbreaktheneckoftheoldworkings。Thecoallaythereinitsseams，eventhoughtheseamswerethin。Thereitlay，inertmatter，asithadalwayslain，sincethebeginningoftime，subjecttothewillofman。Thewillofmanwasthedeterminingfactor。Manwasthearchgodofearth。Hismindwasobedienttoservehiswill。Man"swillwastheabsolute，theonlyabsolute。

AnditwashiswilltosubjugateMattertohisownends。Thesubjugationitselfwasthepoint，thefightwasthebe—all，thefruitsofvictoryweremereresults。ItwasnotforthesakeofmoneythatGeraldtookoverthemines。Hedidnotcareaboutmoney，fundamentally。Hewasneitherostentatiousnorluxurious，neitherdidhecareaboutsocialposition，notfinally。

Whathewantedwasthepurefulfilmentofhisownwillinthestrugglewiththenaturalconditions。Hiswillwasnow，totakethecoaloutoftheearth，profitably。Theprofitwasmerelytheconditionofvictory，butthevictoryitselflayinthefeatachieved。Hevibratedwithzestbeforethechallenge。Everydayhewasinthemines，examining，testing，heconsultedexperts，hegraduallygatheredthewholesituationintohismind，asageneralgraspstheplanofhiscampaign。

Thentherewasneedforacompletebreak。Themineswererunonanoldsystem，anobsoleteidea。Theinitialideahadbeen，toobtainasmuchmoneyfromtheearthaswouldmaketheownerscomfortablyrich，wouldallowtheworkmensufficientwagesandgoodconditions，andwouldincreasethewealthofthecountryaltogether。Gerald"sfather，followinginthesecondgeneration，havingasufficientfortune，hadthoughtonlyofthemen。Themines，forhim，wereprimarilygreatfieldstoproducebreadandplentyforallthehundredsofhumanbeingsgatheredaboutthem。Hehadlivedandstrivenwithhisfellowownerstobenefitthemeneverytime。Andthemenhadbeenbenefitedintheirfashion。Therewerefewpoor，andfewneedy。

Allwasplenty，becausetheminesweregoodandeasytowork。Andtheminers，inthosedays，findingthemselvesricherthantheymighthaveexpected，feltgladandtriumphant。Theythoughtthemselveswell—off，theycongratulatedthemselvesontheirgood—fortune，theyrememberedhowtheirfathershadstarvedandsuffered，andtheyfeltthatbettertimeshadcome。Theyweregratefultothoseothers，thepioneers，thenewowners，whohadopenedoutthepits，andletforththisstreamofplenty。

Butmanisneversatisfied，andsotheminers，fromgratitudetotheirowners，passedontomurmuring。Theirsufficiencydecreasedwithknowledge，theywantedmore。Whyshouldthemasterbesoout—of—all—proportionrich？

TherewasacrisiswhenGeraldwasaboy，whentheMasters"Federationcloseddowntheminesbecausethemenwouldnotacceptareduction。Thislock—outhadforcedhomethenewconditionstoThomasCrich。BelongingtotheFederation，hehadbeencompelledbyhishonourtoclosethepitsagainsthismen。He，thefather，thePatriarch，wasforcedtodenythemeansoflifetohissons，hispeople。He，therichmanwhowouldhardlyenterheavenbecauseofhispossessions，mustnowturnuponthepoor，uponthosewhowerenearerChristthanhimself，thosewhowerehumbleanddespisedandclosertoperfection，thosewhoweremanlyandnobleintheirlabours，andmustsaytothem:`Yeshallneitherlabournoreatbread。"

Itwasthisrecognitionofthestateofwarwhichreallybrokehisheart。

Hewantedhisindustrytoberunonlove。Oh，hewantedlovetobethedirectingpowerevenofthemines。Andnow，fromunderthecloakoflove，theswordwascynicallydrawn，theswordofmechanicalnecessity。

Thisreallybrokehisheart。Hemusthavetheillusionandnowtheillusionwasdestroyed。Themenwerenotagainsthim，buttheywereagainstthemasters。Itwaswar，andwillynillyhefoundhimselfonthewrongside，inhisownconscience。Seethingmassesofminersmetdaily，carriedawaybyanewreligiousimpulse。Theideaflewthroughthem:`Allmenareequalonearth，"andtheywouldcarrytheideatoitsmaterialfulfilment。

Afterall，isitnottheteachingofChrist？Andwhatisanidea，ifnotthegermofactioninthematerialworld。`Allmenareequalinspirit，theyareallsonsofGod。Whencethenthisobviousdisquality？"

Itwasareligiouscreedpushedtoitsmaterialconclusion。ThomasCrichatleasthadnoanswer。Hecouldbutadmit，accordingtohissinceretenets，thatthedisqualitywaswrong。Buthecouldnotgiveuphisgoods，whichwerethestuffofdisquality。Sothemenwouldfightfortheirrights。

Thelastimpulsesofthelastreligiouspassionleftonearth，thepassionforequality，inspiredthem。

Seethingmobsofmenmarchedabout，theirfaceslightedupasforholywar，withasmokeofcupidity。Howdisentanglethepassionforequalityfromthepassionofcupidity，whenbeginsthefightforequalityofpossessions？

ButtheGodwasthemachine。EachmanclaimedequalityintheGodheadofthegreatproductivemachine。EverymanequallywaspartofthisGodhead。

Butsomehow，somewhere，ThomasCrichknewthiswasfalse。WhenthemachineistheGodhead，andproductionorworkisworship，thenthemostmechanicalmindispurestandhighest，therepresentativeofGodonearth。Andtherestaresubordinate，eachaccordingtohisdegree。

Riotsbrokeout，Whatmorepit—headwasinflames。Thiswasthepitfurthestinthecountry，nearthewoods。Soldierscame。FromthewindowsofShortlands，onthatfatalday，couldbeseentheflareoffireintheskynotfaroff，andnowthelittlecollierytrain，withtheworkmen"scarriageswhichwereusedtoconveytheminerstothedistantWhatmore，wascrossingthevalleyfullofsoldiers，fullofredcoats。Thentherewasthefar—offsoundoffiring，thenthelaternewsthatthemobwasdispersed，onemanwasshotdead，thefirewasputout。

Gerald，whowasaboy，wasfilledwiththewildestexcitementanddelight。

Helongedtogowiththesoldierstoshootthemen。Buthewasnotallowedtogooutofthelodgegates。Atthegateswerestationedsentrieswithguns。Geraldstoodnearthemindelight，whilstgangsofderisiveminersstrolledupanddownthelanes，callingandjeering:

`Nowthen，threeha"portho"coppers，let"sseetheeshootthygun。"

Insultswerechalkedonthewallsandthefences，theservantsleft。

AndallthiswhileThomasCrichwasbreakinghisheart，andgivingawayhundredsofpoundsincharity。Everywheretherewasfreefood，asurfeitoffreefood。Anybodycouldhavebreadforasking，andaloafcostonlythree—ha"pence。Everydaytherewasafreeteasomewhere，thechildrenhadneverhadsomanytreatsintheirlives。OnFridayafternoongreatbasketfulsofbunsandcakesweretakenintotheschools，andgreatpitchersofmilk，theschoolchildrenhadwhattheywanted。Theyweresickwitheatingtoomuchcakeandmilk。

Andthenitcametoanend，andthemenwentbacktowork。Butitwasneverthesameasbefore。Therewasanewsituationcreated，anewideareigned。Eveninthemachine，thereshouldbeequality。Nopartshouldbesubordinatetoanyotherpart:allshouldbeequal。Theinstinctforchaoshadentered。Mysticequalityliesinabstraction，notinhavingorindoing，whichareprocesses。Infunctionandprocess，oneman，onepart，mustofnecessitybesubordinatetoanother。Itisaconditionofbeing。

Butthedesireforchaoshadrisen，andtheideaofmechanicalequalitywastheweaponofdisruptionwhichshouldexecutethewillofman，thewillforchaos。

Geraldwasaboyatthetimeofthestrike，buthelongedtobeaman，tofightthecolliers。Thefatherhoweverwastrappedbetweentwohalftruths，andbroken。HewantedtobeapureChristian，oneandequalwithallmen。

Heevenwantedtogiveawayallhehad，tothepoor。Yethewasagreatpromoterofindustry，andheknewperfectlythathemustkeephisgoodsandkeephisauthority。Thiswasasdivineanecessityinhim，astheneedtogiveawayallhepossessed——moredivine，even，sincethiswasthenecessityheactedupon。Yetbecausehedidnotactontheotherideal，itdominatedhim，hewasdyingofchagrinbecausehemustforfeitit。Hewantedtobeafatheroflovingkindnessandsacrificialbenevolence。

Thecolliersshoutedtohimabouthisthousandsayear。Theywouldnotbedeceived。

WhenGeraldgrewupinthewaysoftheworld，heshiftedtheposition。

Hedidnotcareabouttheequality。ThewholeChristianattitudeofloveandself—sacrificewasoldhat。Heknewthatpositionandauthorityweretherightthingintheworld，anditwasuselesstocantaboutit。Theyweretherightthing，forthesimplereasonthattheywerefunctionallynecessary。Theywerenotthebe—allandtheend—all。Itwaslikebeingpartofamachine。Hehimselfhappenedtobeacontrolling，centralpart，themassesofmenwerethepartsvariouslycontrolled。Thiswasmerelyasithappened。Aswellgetexcitedbecauseacentralhubdrivesahundredouterwheelsorbecausethewholeuniversewheelsroundthesun。Afterall，itwouldbemeresillinesstosaythatthemoonandtheearthandSaturnandJupiterandVenushavejustasmuchrighttobethecentreoftheuniverse，eachofthemseparately，asthesun。Suchanassertionismademerelyinthedesireofchaos。

Withoutbotheringtothinktoaconclusion，Geraldjumpedtoaconclusion。Heabandonedthewholedemocratic—equalityproblemasaproblemofsilliness。Whatmatteredwasthegreatsocialproductivemachine。Letthatworkperfectly，letitproduceasufficiencyofeverything，leteverymanbegivenarationalportion，greaterorlessaccordingtohisfunctionaldegreeormagnitude，andthen，provisionmade，letthedevilsupervene，leteverymanlookafterhisownamusementsandappetites，solongasheinterferedwithnobody。

SoGeraldsethimselftowork，toputthegreatindustryinorder。Inhistravels，andinhisaccompanyingreadings，hehadcometotheconclusionthattheessentialsecretoflifewasharmony。Hedidnotdefinetohimselfatallclearlywhatharmonywas。Thewordpleasedhim，hefelthehadcometohisownconclusions。Andheproceededtoputhisphilosophyintopracticebyforcingorderintotheestablishedworld，translatingthemysticwordharmonyintothepracticalwordorganisation。

Immediatelyhesawthefirm，herealisedwhathecoulddo。HehadafighttofightwithMatter，withtheearthandthecoalitenclosed。

Thiswasthesoleidea，toturnupontheinanimatematteroftheunderground，andreduceittohiswill。Andforthisfightwithmatter，onemusthaveperfectinstrumentsinperfectorganisation，amechanismsosubtleandharmoniousinitsworkingsthatitrepresentsthesinglemindofman，andbyitsrelentlessrepetitionofgivenmovement，willaccomplishapurposeirresistibly，inhumanly。ItwasthisinhumanprincipleinthemechanismhewantedtoconstructthatinspiredGeraldwithanalmostreligiousexaltation。

He，theman，couldinterposeaperfect，changeless，godlikemediumbetweenhimselfandtheMatterhehadtosubjugate。Thereweretwoopposites，hiswillandtheresistantMatteroftheearth。Andbetweenthesehecouldestablishtheveryexpressionofhiswill，theincarnationofhispower，agreatandperfectmachine，asystem，anactivityofpureorder，puremechanicalrepetition，repetitionadinfinitum，henceeternalandinfinite。

Hefoundhiseternalandhisinfiniteinthepuremachine—principleofperfectco—ordinationintoonepure，complex，infinitelyrepeatedmotion，likethespinningofawheel;butaproductivespinning，astherevolvingoftheuniversemaybecalledaproductivespinning，aproductiverepetitionthrougheternity，toinfinity。AndthisistheGodmotion，thisproductiverepetitionadinfinitum。AndGeraldwastheGodofthemachine，DeusexMachina。AndthewholeproductivewillofmanwastheGodhead。

Hehadhislife—worknow，toextendovertheearthagreatandperfectsysteminwhichthewillofmanransmoothandunthwarted，timeless，aGodheadinprocess。Hehadtobeginwiththemines。Thetermsweregiven:

firsttheresistantMatteroftheunderground;thentheinstrumentsofitssubjugation，instrumentshumanandmetallic;andfinallyhisownpurewill，hisownmind。Itwouldneedamarvellousadjustmentofmyriadinstruments，human，animal，metallic，kinetic，dynamic，amarvellouscastingofmyriadtinywholesintoonegreatperfectentirety。Andthen，inthiscasetherewasperfectionattained，thewillofthehighestwasperfectlyfulfilled，thewillofmankindwasperfectlyenacted;forwasnotmankindmysticallycontra—distinguishedagainstinanimateMatter，wasnotthehistoryofmankindjustthehistoryoftheconquestoftheonebytheother？

Theminerswereoverreached。Whiletheywerestillinthetoilsofdivineequalityofman，Geraldhadpassedon，grantedessentiallytheircase，andproceededinhisqualityofhumanbeingtofulfilthewillofmankindasawhole。Hemerelyrepresentedtheminersinahighersensewhenheperceivedthattheonlywaytofulfilperfectlythewillofmanwastoestablishtheperfect，inhumanmachine。Butherepresentedthemveryessentially，theywerefarbehind，outofdate，squabblingfortheirmaterialequality。

Thedesirehadalreadytransmutedintothisnewandgreaterdesire，foraperfectinterveningmechanismbetweenmanandMatter，thedesiretotranslatetheGodheadintopuremechanism。

AssoonasGeraldenteredthefirm，theconvulsionofdeathranthroughtheoldsystem。Hehadallhislifebeentorturedbyafuriousanddestructivedemon，whichpossessedhimsometimeslikeaninsanity。Thistempernowenteredlikeavirusintothefirm，andtherewerecrueleruptions。Terribleandinhumanwerehisexaminationsintoeverydetail;therewasnoprivacyhewouldspare，nooldsentimentbuthewouldturnitover。Theoldgreymanagers，theoldgreyclerks，thedodderingoldpensioners，helookedatthem，andremovedthemassomuchlumber。Thewholeconcernseemedlikeahospitalofinvalidemployees。Hehadnoemotionalqualms。Hearrangedwhatpensionswerenecessary，helookedforefficientsubstitutes，andwhenthesewerefound，hesubstitutedthemfortheoldhands。

`I"veapitifulletterherefromLetherington，"hisfatherwouldsay，inatoneofdeprecationandappeal。`Don"tyouthinkthepoorfellowmightkeeponalittlelonger。Ialwaysfanciedhedidverywell。"

`I"vegotamaninhisplacenow，father。He"llbehappieroutofit，believeme。Youthinkhisallowanceisplenty，don"tyou？"

`Itisnottheallowancethathewants，poorman。Hefeelsitverymuch，thatheissuperannuated。Sayshethoughthehadtwentymoreyearsofworkinhimyet。"

`NotofthiskindofworkIwant。Hedoesn"tunderstand。"

Thefathersighed。Hewantednottoknowanymore。Hebelievedthepitswouldhavetobeoverhaulediftheyweretogoonworking。Andafterall，itwouldbeworstinthelongrunforeverybody，iftheymustclosedown。

Sohecouldmakenoanswertotheappealsofhisoldandtrustyservants，hecouldonlyrepeat`Geraldsays。"

Sothefatherdrewmoreandmoreoutofthelight。Thewholeframeofthereallifewasbrokenforhim。Hehadbeenrightaccordingtohislights。

Andhislightshadbeenthoseofthegreatreligion。Yettheyseemedtohavebecomeobsolete，tobesupersededintheworld。Hecouldnotunderstand。

Heonlywithdrewwithhislightsintoaninnerroom，intothesilence。

Thebeautifulcandlesofbelief，thatwouldnotdotolighttheworldanymore，theywouldstillburnsweetlyandsufficientlyintheinnerroomofhissoul，andinthesilenceofhisretirement。

Geraldrushedintothereformofthefirm，beginningwiththeoffice。

Itwasneedfultoeconomiseseverely，tomakepossiblethegreatalterationshemustintroduce。

`Whatarethesewidows"coals？"heasked。