“It’s not an aversion, or a prejudice, sir. It’s a simple fact of history. Education increases the power of the human brain to think and the heart to suffer. Sooner or later these educated negroes feel the clutch of the iron hand of the white man’s unwritten laws on their throat. They have their choice between a suicide’s grave or a prison cell. And the numbers who dare the grave and the prison cell daily increase. The South is kinder to the Negro when he is kept in his place.” “You are a quarter of a century behind the times.” “Am I so old?” she laughed. “The sentiment, not the woman. You are the most beautiful woman I ever saw.” “I like all my boys to feel that way about me.” “You don’t class me quite with the rest, do you?” She blushed the slightest bit. “No, I’ve always taken a peculiar interest in you. I have quarrelled with everybody who has hated and spoken evil of you. I have always believed you were capable of a high and noble life of great achievement.” “And your faith in me has been my highest incentive to give the lie to my enemies and succeed. And I will. I will be the master of this state within two years. And I want you to remember that I lay it all at your feet. The world need not know it,--you know it.” He spoke with intense earnestness. “But I don’t want you to make such a success at the price of Negro equality. I feel a sense of unspeakable degradation for you when I hear your name hissed. At least I was your teacher once. Come Allan, give up Negro politics and devote yourself to an honourable career in law!” He shook his head with calm persistence. “No, this is my calling.” “Then take a nobler one.” “To succeed grandly is the only title to nobility here.” “Is the Doctor on speaking terms with you now?” “Oh! yes, I joke him about his hide-bound Bourbonism, and he tells me I am all sorts of a villain. But we have made an agreement to hate one another in a polite sort of way as becomes a teacher in Israel and a statesman with responsibilities. By the way, I saw him driving to the Springs with a bevy of pretty girls a few hours ago.” “Indeed, I didn’t know it!” “Yes, he seemed to be having a royal time and to have renewed his youth.” An angry flush came to her face and she made no reply. McLeod glanced at her furtively and smiled at this evidence that his shot had gone home. “Would you drive with me to the Springs? We will get there before this party starts back.” She hesitated, and answered, “yes.” CHAPTER XI--THE OLD OLD STORY WHEN Gaston arrived in Independence he went direct to St. Clare’s. “Where the Dickens have you been, Gaston?” “Jumping from Murphy to Manteo making love to hayseed statesmen.” “What luck?” “They’re all crazy. They swear they are going to have the United States establish a Sub-Treasury in Raleigh and issue Government script they can use as money on their pumpkins, or they are going to tear the nation to tatters and vote for a nigger for Governor if necessary!”