s checked
trousers, and stood waiting, with his square head thrust forward, for
what was to follow.

"Mr. McGrath has called," continued the Governor, "to explain the
attitude of the Union in the impending strike at the Rathbawne Mills.
I've been telling him of our conversation of yesterday afternoon, and
that, as you were to see Mr. Rathbawne last night, you would probably
have something to tell us in regard to his position. Were you able to
persuade him to a more reasonable view of the situation?"

"I have nothing to add, sir, to what I said yesterday," replied Barclay.
"I told you then that I had no intention of endeavoring to influence Mr.
Rathbawne's judgment."

"He spoke to you about it?"

"Yes."

"And asked your advice?"

"He did."

"And you replied?"

The Lieutenant-Governor flushed.

"I beg to suggest, sir," he answered, "that this is hardly the time for
me to commit myself as to that. I conceive it to be a matter of official
privacy. Mr. McGrath"--

"You have my authority to speak, Mr. Barclay," said the Governor.
"Indeed, I desire it. Since one side knows your views, there is no
reason why the other should not be informed as well. Mr. McGrath is the
president of the Union. It is best that he should know the attitude of
the state authorities in this controversy."

"I am not in a position to question your wishes, sir. You should know
best."

"One cannot pretend to be infallible, Mr. Barclay," answered the
Governor, rubbing his hands. "One can only do what seems to be right and
proper under the circumstances. By our conversation of yesterday, I in a
measure put the negotiations with Mr. Rathbawne into your hands."

"It is a task I did not seek, sir. Pardon me if I say that it is also
one which I should hardly have accepted, had I been aware that in
speaking as you did you were actually asking me to assume it. Mr.
Rathbawne is my friend, and, moreover, my personal convictions"--

The Governor held up his hand.

"There can be no question of friendship or of personal conviction, Mr.
Barclay, in the case of a duty imposed upon a state official. I realize
that what you--or I, for that matter--must do in the performance of our
obligations, is oftentimes disagreeable, oftentimes at variance with our
wishes. But that is unavoidable."

Barclay moved uneasily. The intrusion of this pedantry, so conspicuously
insincere, with its implied rebuke, chafed him unspeakably, in view of
the presence of McGra