The Forsyte Saga, Volume 3(19)

‘Perching just now like the swallows?’

‘Ah! In a fortnight we’ll all have flitted.’

Dinny had come brimful of Anglo-femininity, and the contrast between Hallorsen’s overpowering health and Hubert’s haggard looks had at once sharpened the edge of her temper. She sat down beside that embodiment of the conquering male with the full intention of planting every dart she could in his epidermis. He was, however, at once engaged in conversation by Diana, and she had not finished her soup (clear, with a prune in it) before, stealing a look around at him, she revised her plan. After all, he was a stranger and a guest, and she was supposed to be a lady; there were other ways of killing a cat beside hanging it. She would not plant darts, she would ‘charm him with smiles and soap’; that would be more considerate towards Diana and her uncle, and more effective warfare in the long run. With a cunning worthy of her cause, she waited till he was in deep water over British politics, which he seemed to regard as serious manifestations of human activity; then, turning on him the Botticellian eye, she said:

‘We should treat American politics just as seriously, Professor. But surely they’re not serious, are they?’

‘I believe you are right, Miss Cherrell. There’s just one rule for politicians all over the world: Don’t say in Power what you say in Opposition; if you do, you only have to carry out what the other fellows have found impossible. The only real difference, I judge, between Parties is that one Party sits in the National ’Bus, and the other Party strap-hangs.’

‘In Russia, what’s left of the other Party lies under the seat, doesn’t it?’

‘So it does in Italy,’ said Diana.

‘And what about Spain?’ added Adrian.

Hallorsen uttered his infectious laugh. ‘Dictatorships aren’t politics. They’re jokes.’

‘No jokes, Professor.’

‘Bad jokes, Professor.’

‘How do you mean – jokes, Professor?’

‘Bluff. Just one long assumption that human nature’s on the mark the Dictator makes for it. The moment his bluff’s called – Why! Wump!’

‘But,’ said Diana, ‘suppose a majority of the people approve of their dictator, isn’t that democracy, or government by consent of the governed?’

‘I would say no, Mrs Ferse, unless he was confirmed by majority every year.’

‘Dictators get things done,’ said Adrian.

‘At a price, Mr Curator. But look at Diaz in Mexico. For twenty years he made it the Garden of Eden, but see what it’s been ever since he went. You can’t get out of a people for keeps what isn’t yet in them.’

‘The fault,’ replied Adrian, ‘in our political system and in yours, Professor, is that a whole lot of reforms latent in the common-sense of the people don’t get a chance of being carried out because our short-term politicians won’t give a lead, for fear of losing the power they haven’t got.’

‘Aunt May,’ Dinny murmured, ‘was saying: Why not cure Unemployment by a National Slum Clearance effort, and kill the two birds with one stone?’

‘My! But that’s a mighty fine idea!’ said Hallorsen, turning on her the full of his brimming face.

‘Vested interests,’ said Diana, ‘slum landlordism and the building trades are too strong for that.’

Adrian added: ‘And there’s the cash required.’

‘Why! that’s all easy. Your Parliament could take what powers they need for a big national thing like that; and what’s wrong with a Loan, anyway? – the money would come back; it’s not like a Loan for war, all shot away in powder. What do you pay in doles?’

No one could answer him.

‘I judge the saving would pay the interest on a pretty big Loan.’

‘It just, in fact,’ said Dinny, sweetly, ‘needs simple faith. That’s where you Americans beat us, Professor Hallorsen.’

A look slid over the American’s face as though he were saying: ‘Cats!’

‘Well, we certainly had a pieful of simple faith when we came over to fight in France. But we ate the lot. It’ll be the home fires we keep burning next time.’

‘Was your faith so simple even last time?’

‘I fear it was, Miss Cherrell. Not one in twenty of us ever believed the Germans could get a cinch on us away over there.’

‘I sit rebuked, Professor.’

‘Why! Not at all! You judge America by Europe.’

‘There was Belgium, Professor,’ said Diana; ‘even we had some simple faith at the start.’

‘Pardon me, but did the case of Belgium really move you, Ma’am?’