ted waving Union Jacks last
September? It's no good; we simply have not got it in us to stand defeat
or victory. At any rate, if the Boers win, it will mean the preservation
of something. Whereas if we win, we shall just destroy everything."

"Michael, what do you think is the important thing for this country at
this moment?" Mr. Viner asked.

"Well, I suppose I still think it is that the people--the great mass of
the nation, that is--should be happier and better. No, I don't think
that's it at all. I think the important thing is that the people should
be able to use the power that's coming to them in bigger lumps every
day. I'd like to think it wasn't, I'd like to believe that democracy
always will be as it always has been--a self-made failure. But against
my own will I can't help believing that this time democracy is going to
carry everything before it. And this war is going to hurry it on. Of
course it is. The masses will learn their power. They'll learn that
generals can make fools of themselves, that officers can be done
without, that professional soldiers can be cowards, but that simply by
paying we can still win. And where's the money coming from? Why, from
the class that tried to be clever and bluff the people out of their
power by staging this war. Well, do you mean to tell me that it's good
for a democracy, this sudden realization of their omnipotence? Look
here, you think I'm an excitable young fool, but I tell you I've been
pitching my ideals at a blank wall like so many empty bottles and----"

"Were they empty?" asked Mr. Viner. "Are you sure they were empty? May
they not have been cruses of ointment the more precious for being
broken?"

"Well, I wish I could keep one for myself," Michael said.

"My dear boy, you'll never be able to do that. You'll always be too
prodigal of your ideals. I should have no qualms about your future,
whatever you did meanwhile. And, do you know, I don't think I have many
qualms about this England of ours, however badly she behaves sometimes.
I'm glad you recognize that the people are coming into their own. I wish
that _you_ were glad, but you will be one day. The Catholic religion
must be a popular religion. The Sabbath was made for man, you know.
Catholicism is God's method of throwing bottles at a blank wall--but not
empty bottles, Michael. On the whole, I would sooner that now you were a
reactionary than a Dantonist. Your present attitude of mind at any rate
gives you th