Ibegantokeepascrap-book,thoughIlockeditupinthedrawerofmydesk.Initaretobefoundmanyclippingsofasimilarlygratifyingtenor
MecklinandIwerewellcontrasted.Inthisway,incidentally,Imademanyvaluableacquaintancesamongthe\"solid\"menofthestate,thelocalcapitalistsandmanufacturers,withwhommymannerofdealingwithpublicquestionswasinparticularfavour.Thesewerepracticalmen;theyratherpatronizedtheHon.Joseph,thusestimating,toanicety,amansvalue;orsolidity,orspecificgravity,itmightbetterbesaid,sinceouruniversewasoneofchecksandbalances.TheHon.Josephandhislike,skyrocketingthroughtheair,weresomehownecessaryintheschemeofthings,butnottobetakentooseriously.Metheydidtakeseriously,theseprovinciallords,invitingmetotheirhousesandopeningtheirhearts.Thus,whenwecametoElkington,Mr.MecklinreposedintheCommercialHouse,onthenoisymainstreet.Fortunatelyforhim,theclangingoftrolleycarsneverinterferedwithhisslumbers.
IsleptinawidechamberinthemansionofMr.EzraHutchins.ThereweremanyHutchinsesinElkington,——brothersandcousinsandunclesandgreat-uncles,——andallwereconnectedwiththewoollenmills.ButthereisalwaysonesupremeHutchins,andEzrawashe:tall,self-contained,elderly,butwellpreservedthroughfrugalliving,essentiallyAmericanandtypicalofhisclass,whenheenteredthelobbyoftheCommercialHousethatafternoonthebabelofpoliticaldiscussionwassuddenlyhushed;politicians,travelingsalesmenandthemembersofthelocalcommitteemadealaneforhim;tohim,theHon.JosephandIwereintroduced.Mr.Hutchinsknewwhathewanted.HewascordialtoMr.
Mecklin,buthetookme.Weenteredamostrespectablesurreywithtassels,drivenbyaraw-bonedcoachmaninablackovercoat,drawnbytwosleekhorses.
\"Howisthisthinggoing,Paret?\"heasked.