Andsheboremanychildren。For，astimewenton，sheneveropposedherhusbandinwordordeed。Shetooknonoticeofhim，externally。Shesubmittedtohim，lethimtakewhathewantedanddoashewantedwithher。Shewaslikeahawkthatsullenlysubmitstoeverything。Therelationbetweenherandherhusbandwaswordlessandunknown，butitwasdeep，awful，arelationofutterinter—destruction。Andhe，whotriumphedintheworld，hebecamemoreandmorehollowinhisvitality，thevitalitywasbledfromwithinhim，asbysomehaemorrhage。Shewashulkedlikeahawkinacage，butherheartwasfierceandundiminishedwithinher，thoughhermindwasdestroyed。
　　Sotothelasthewouldgotoherandholdherinhisarmssometimes，beforehisstrengthwasallgone。Theterriblewhite，destructivelightthatburnedinhereyesonlyexcitedandrousedhim。Tillhewasbledtodeath，andthenhedreadedhermorethananything。Buthealwayssaidtohimself，howhappyhehadbeen，howhehadlovedherwithapureandconsumingloveeversincehehadknownher。Andhethoughtofheraspure，chaste;
　　thewhiteflamewhichwasknowntohimalone，theflameofhersex，wasawhiteflowerofsnowtohismind。Shewasawonderfulwhitesnow—flower，whichhehaddesiredinfinitely。Andnowhewasdyingwithallhisideasandinterpretationsintact。Theywouldonlycollapsewhenthebreathlefthisbody。Tillthentheywouldbepuretruthsforhim。Onlydeathwouldshowtheperfectcompletenessofthelie。Tilldeath，shewashiswhitesnow—flower。Hehadsubduedher，andhersubjugationwastohimaninfinitechastityinher，avirginitywhichhecouldneverbreak，andwhichdominatedhimasbyaspell。
　　Shehadletgotheouterworld，butwithinherselfshewasunbrokenandunimpaired。Sheonlysatinherroomlikeamoping，dishevelledhawk，motionless，mindless。Herchildren，forwhomshehadbeensofierceinheryouth，nowmeantscarcelyanythingtoher。Shehadlostallthat，shewasquitebyherself。OnlyGerald，thegleaming，hadsomeexistenceforher。Butoflateyears，sincehehadbecomeheadofthebusiness，hetoowasforgotten。Whereasthefather，nowhewasdying，turnedforcompassiontoGerald。Therehadalwaysbeenoppositionbetweenthetwoofthem。Geraldhadfearedanddespisedhisfather，andtoagreatextenthadavoidedhimallthroughboyhoodandyoungmanhood。Andthefatherhadfeltveryoftenarealdislikeofhiseldestson，which，neverwantingtogivewayto，hehadrefusedtoacknowledge。HehadignoredGeraldasmuchaspossible，leavinghimalone。
　　Since，however，Geraldhadcomehomeandassumedresponsibilityinthefirm，andhadprovedsuchawonderfuldirector，thefather，tiredandwearyofalloutsideconcerns，hadputallhistrustofthesethingsinhisson，implicitly，leavingeverythingtohim，andassumingarathertouchingdependenceontheyoungenemy。ThisimmediatelyrousedapoignantpityandallegianceinGerald'sheart，alwaysshadowedbycontemptandbyunadmittedenmity。
　　ForGeraldwasinreactionagainstCharity;andyethewasdominatedbyit，itassumedsupremacyintheinnerlife，andhecouldnotconfuteit。
　　Sohewaspartlysubjecttothatwhichhisfatherstoodfor，buthewasinreactionagainstit。Nowhecouldnotsavehimself。Acertainpityandgriefandtendernessforhisfatherovercamehim，inspiteofthedeeper，moresullenhostility。
　　ThefatherwonshelterfromGeraldthroughcompassion。ButforlovehehadWinifred。Shewashisyoungestchild，shewastheonlyoneofhischildrenwhomhehadevercloselyloved。Andherhelovedwithallthegreat，overweening，shelteringloveofadyingman。Hewantedtoshelterherinfinitely，infinitely，towrapherinwarmthandloveandshelter，perfectly。Ifhecouldsavehersheshouldneverknowonepain，onegrief，onehurt。Hehadbeensorightallhislife，soconstantinhiskindnessandhisgoodness。Andthiswashislastpassionaterighteousness，hisloveforthechildWinifred。Somethingstroubledhimyet。Theworldhadpassedawayfromhim，ashisstrengthebbed。Therewerenomorepoorandinjuredandhumbletoprotectandsuccour。Thesewerealllosttohim。Therewerenomoresonsanddaughterstotroublehim，andtoweighonhimasanunnaturalresponsibility。ThesetoohadfadedoutofrealityAllthesethingshadfallenoutofhishands，andlefthimfree。
　　Thereremainedthecovertfearandhorrorofhiswife，asshesatmindlessandstrangeinherroom，orasshecameforthwithslow，prowlingstep，herheadbentforward。Butthisheputaway。Evenhislife—longrighteousness，however，wouldnotquitedeliverhimfromtheinnerhorror。Still，hecouldkeepitsufficientlyatbay。Itwouldneverbreakforthopenly。Deathwouldcomefirst。
　　ThentherewasWinifred！Ifonlyhecouldbesureabouther，ifonlyhecouldbesure。SincethedeathofDiana，andthedevelopmentofhisillness，hiscravingforsuretywithregardtoWinifredamountedalmosttoobsession。Itwasasif，evendying，hemusthavesomeanxiety，someresponsibilityoflove，ofCharity，uponhisheart。
　　Shewasanodd，sensitive，inflammablechild，havingherfather'sdarkhairandquietbearing，butbeingquitedetached，momentaneous。Shewaslikeachangelingindeed，asifherfeelingsdidnotmattertoher，really。
　　Sheoftenseemedtobetalkingandplayinglikethegayestandmostchildishofchildren，shewasfullofthewarmest，mostdelightfulaffectionforafewthings——forherfather，andforheranimalsinparticular。ButifsheheardthatherbelovedkittenLeohadbeenrunoverbythemotor—carsheputherheadononeside，andreplied，withafaintcontractionlikeresentmentonherface:`Hashe？'Thenshetooknomorenotice。Sheonlydislikedtheservantwhowouldforcebadnewsonher，andwantedhertobesorry。Shewishednottoknow，andthatseemedherchiefmotive。Sheavoidedhermother，andmostofthemembersofherfamily。ShelovedherDaddy，becausehewantedheralwaystobehappy，andbecauseheseemedtobecomeyoungagain，andirresponsibleinherpresence。ShelikedGerald，becausehewassoself—contained。Shelovedpeoplewhowouldmakelifeagameforher。Shehadanamazinginstinctivecriticalfaculty，andwasapureanarchist，apurearistocratatonce。Forsheacceptedherequalswherevershefoundthem，andsheignoredwithblitheindifferenceherinferiors，whethertheywereherbrothersandsisters，orwhethertheywerewealthyguestsofthehouse，orwhethertheywerethecommonpeopleortheservants。
　　Shewasquitesingleandbyherself，derivingfromnobody。Itwasasifshewerecutofffromallpurposeorcontinuity，andexistedsimplymomentbymoment。
　　Thefather，asbysomestrangefinalillusion，feltasifallhisfatedependedonhisensuringtoWinifredherhappiness。Shewhocouldneversuffer，becausesheneverformedvitalconnections，shewhocouldlosethedearestthingsofherlifeandbejustthesamethenextday，thewholememorydroppedout，asifdeliberately，shewhosewillwassostrangelyandeasilyfree，anarchistic，almostnihilistic，wholikeasoullessbirdflitsonitsownwill，withoutattachmentorresponsibilitybeyondthemoment，whoinhereverymotionsnappedthethreadsofseriousrelationshipwithblithe，freehands，reallynihilistic，becausenevertroubled，shemustbetheobjectofherfather'sfinalpassionatesolicitude。
　　WhenMrCrichheardthatGudrunBrangwenmightcometohelpWinifredwithherdrawingandmodellinghesawaroadtosalvationforhischild。
　　HebelievedthatWinifredhadtalent，hehadseenGudrun，heknewthatshewasanexceptionalperson。HecouldgiveWinifredintoherhandsasintothehandsofarightbeing。Herewasadirectionandapositiveforcetobelenttohischild，heneednotleaveherdirectionlessanddefenceless。
　　Ifhecouldbutgraftthegirlontosometreeofutterancebeforehedied，hewouldhavefulfilledhisresponsibility。Andhereitcouldbedone。
　　HedidnothesitatetoappealtoGudrun。
　　Meanwhile，asthefatherdriftedmoreandmoreoutoflife，Geraldexperiencedmoreandmoreasenseofexposure。Hisfatherafterallhadstoodforthelivingworldtohim。WhilsthisfatherlivedGeraldwasnotresponsiblefortheworld。Butnowhisfatherwaspassingaway，Geraldfoundhimselfleftexposedandunreadybeforethestormofliving，likethemutinousfirstmateofashipthathaslosthiscaptain，andwhoseesonlyaterriblechaosinfrontofhim。Hedidnotinheritanestablishedorderandalivingidea。Thewholeunifyingideaofmankindseemedtobedyingwithhisfather，thecentralisingforcethathadheldthewholetogetherseemedtocollapsewithhisfather，thepartswerereadytogoasunderinterribledisintegration。
　　Geraldwasasifleftonboardofashipthatwasgoingasunderbeneathhisfeet，hewasinchargeofavesselwhosetimberswereallcomingapart。
　　Heknewthatallhislifehehadbeenwrenchingattheframeoflifetobreakitapart。Andnow，withsomethingoftheterrorofadestructivechild，hesawhimselfonthepointofinheritinghisowndestruction。Andduringthelastmonths，undertheinfluenceofdeath，andofBirkin'stalk，andofGudrun'spenetratingbeing，hehadlostentirelythatmechanicalcertaintythathadbeenhistriumph。Sometimesspasmsofhatredcameoverhim，againstBirkinandGudrunandthatwholeset。Hewantedtogobacktothedullestconservatism，tothemoststupidofconventionalpeople。
　　HewantedtoreverttothestrictestToryism。Butthedesiredidnotlastlongenoughtocarryhimintoaction。
　　Duringhischildhoodandhisboyhoodhehadwantedasortofsavagedom。
　　ThedaysofHomerwerehisideal，whenamanwaschiefofanarmyofheroes，orspenthisyearsinwonderfulOdyssey。Hehatedremorselesslythecircumstancesofhisownlife，somuchthatheneverreallysawBeldoverandthecollieryvalley。HeturnedhisfaceentirelyawayfromtheblackenedminingregionthatstretchedawayontherighthandofShortlands，heturnedentirelytothecountryandthewoodsbeyondWilleyWater。ItwastruethatthepantingandrattlingofthecoalminescouldalwaysbeheardatShortlands。
　　Butfromhisearliestchildhood，Geraldhadpaidnoheedtothis。Hehadignoredthewholeoftheindustrialseawhichsurgedincoal—blackenedtidesagainstthegroundsofthehouse。Theworldwasreallyawildernesswhereonehuntedandswamandrode。Herebelledagainstallauthority。
　　Lifewasaconditionofsavagefreedom。
　　Thenhehadbeensentawaytoschool，whichwassomuchdeathtohim。
　　HerefusedtogotoOxford，choosingaGermanuniversity。HehadspentacertaintimeatBonn，atBerlin，andatFrankfurt。There，acuriosityhadbeenarousedinhismind。Hewantedtoseeandtoknow，inacuriousobjectivefashion，asifitwereanamusementtohim。Thenhemusttrywar。Thenhemusttravelintothesavageregionsthathadsoattractedhim。
　　Theresultwas，hefoundhumanityverymuchalikeeverywhere，andtoamindlikehis，curiousandcold，thesavagewasduller，lessexcitingthantheEuropean。Sohetookholdofallkindsofsociologicalideas，andideasofreform。Buttheyneverwentmorethanskin—deep，theywerenevermorethanamentalamusement。Theirinterestlaychieflyinthereactionagainstthepositiveorder，thedestructivereaction。
　　Hediscoveredatlastarealadventureinthecoal—mines。Hisfatheraskedhimtohelpinthefirm。Geraldhadbeeneducatedinthescienceofmining，andithadneverinterestedhim。Now，suddenly，withasortofexultation，helaidholdoftheworld。
　　Therewasimpressedphotographicallyonhisconsciousnessthegreatindustry。Suddenly，itwasreal，hewaspartofit。Downthevalleyranthecollieryrailway，linkingminewithmine。Downtherailwayranthetrains，shorttrainsofheavilyladentrucks，longtrainsofemptywagons，eachonebearinginbigwhiteletterstheinitials:
　　`C。B。&Co。'
　　Thesewhitelettersonallthewagonshehadseensincehisfirstchildhood，anditwasasifhehadneverseenthem，theyweresofamiliar，andsoignored。Nowatlasthesawhisownnamewrittenonthewall。Nowhehadavisionofpower。
　　Somanywagons，bearinghisinitial，runningalloverthecountry。HesawthemasheenteredLondoninthetrain，hesawthematDover。Sofarhispowerramified。HelookedatBeldover，atSelby，atWhatmore，atLethleyBank，thegreatcollieryvillageswhichdependedentirelyonhismines。
　　Theywerehideousandsordid，duringhischildhoodtheyhadbeensoresinhisconsciousness。Andnowhesawthemwithpride。Fourrawnewtowns，andmanyuglyindustrialhamletswerecrowdedunderhisdependence。Hesawthestreamofminersflowingalongthecausewaysfromtheminesattheendoftheafternoon，thousandsofblackened，slightlydistortedhumanbeingswithredmouths，allmovingsubjugatetohiswill。Hepushedslowlyinhismotor—carthroughthelittlemarket—toponFridaynightsinBeldover，throughasolidmassofhumanbeingsthatweremakingtheirpurchasesanddoingtheirweeklyspending。Theywereallsubordinatetohim。Theywereuglyanduncouth，buttheywerehisinstruments。HewastheGodofthemachine。Theymadewayforhismotor—carautomatically，slowly。
　　Hedidnotcarewhethertheymadewaywithalacrity，orgrudgingly。
　　Hedidnotcarewhattheythoughtofhim。Hisvisionhadsuddenlycrystallised。
　　Suddenlyhehadconceivedthepureinstrumentalityofmankind。Therehadbeensomuchhumanitarianism，somuchtalkofsufferingsandfeelings。
　　Itwasridiculous。Thesufferingsandfeelingsofindividualsdidnotmatterintheleast。Theyweremereconditions，liketheweather。Whatmatteredwasthepureinstrumentalityoftheindividual。Asamanasofaknife:
　　doesitcutwell？Nothingelsemattered。
　　Everythingintheworldhasitsfunction，andisgoodornotgoodinsofarasitfulfilsthisfunctionmoreorlessperfectly。Wasamineragoodminer？Thenhewascomplete。Wasamanageragoodmanager？Thatwasenough。Geraldhimself，whowasresponsibleforallthisindustry，washeagooddirector？Ifhewere，hehadfulfilledhislife。Therestwasby—play。
　　Themineswerethere，theywereold。Theyweregivingout，itdidnotpaytoworktheseams。Therewastalkofclosingdowntwoofthem。ItwasatthispointthatGeraldarrivedonthescene。
　　Helookedaround。Therelaythemines。Theywereold，obsolete。Theywerelikeoldlions，nomoregood。Helookedagain。Pah！themineswerenothingbuttheclumsyeffortsofimpureminds。Theretheylay，abortionsofahalf—trainedmind。Lettheideaofthembesweptaway。Heclearedhisbrainofthem，andthoughtonlyofthecoalintheunderearth。Howmuchwasthere？
　　Therewasplentyofcoal。Theoldworkingscouldnotgetatit，thatwasall。Thenbreaktheneckoftheoldworkings。Thecoallaythereinitsseams，eventhoughtheseamswerethin。Thereitlay，inertmatter，asithadalwayslain，sincethebeginningoftime，subjecttothewillofman。Thewillofmanwasthedeterminingfactor。Manwasthearchgodofearth。Hismindwasobedienttoservehiswill。Man'swillwastheabsolute，theonlyabsolute。
　　AnditwashiswilltosubjugateMattertohisownends。Thesubjugationitselfwasthepoint，thefightwasthebe—all，thefruitsofvictoryweremereresults。ItwasnotforthesakeofmoneythatGeraldtookoverthemines。Hedidnotcareaboutmoney，fundamentally。Hewasneitherostentatiousnorluxurious，neitherdidhecareaboutsocialposition，notfinally。
　　Whathewantedwasthepurefulfilmentofhisownwillinthestrugglewiththenaturalconditions。Hiswillwasnow，totakethecoaloutoftheearth，profitably。Theprofitwasmerelytheconditionofvictory，butthevictoryitselflayinthefeatachieved。Hevibratedwithzestbeforethechallenge。Everydayhewasinthemines，examining，testing，heconsultedexperts，hegraduallygatheredthewholesituationintohismind，asageneralgraspstheplanofhiscampaign。
　　Thentherewasneedforacompletebreak。Themineswererunonanoldsystem，anobsoleteidea。Theinitialideahadbeen，toobtainasmuchmoneyfromtheearthaswouldmaketheownerscomfortablyrich，wouldallowtheworkmensufficientwagesandgoodconditions，andwouldincreasethewealthofthecountryaltogether。Gerald'sfather，followinginthesecondgeneration，havingasufficientfortune，hadthoughtonlyofthemen。Themines，forhim，wereprimarilygreatfieldstoproducebreadandplentyforallthehundredsofhumanbeingsgatheredaboutthem。Hehadlivedandstrivenwithhisfellowownerstobenefitthemeneverytime。Andthemenhadbeenbenefitedintheirfashion。Therewerefewpoor，andfewneedy。
　　Allwasplenty，becausetheminesweregoodandeasytowork。Andtheminers，inthosedays，findingthemselvesricherthantheymighthaveexpected，feltgladandtriumphant。Theythoughtthemselveswell—off，theycongratulatedthemselvesontheirgood—fortune，theyrememberedhowtheirfathershadstarvedandsuffered，andtheyfeltthatbettertimeshadcome。Theyweregratefultothoseothers，thepioneers，thenewowners，whohadopenedoutthepits，andletforththisstreamofplenty。
　　Butmanisneversatisfied，andsotheminers，fromgratitudetotheirowners，passedontomurmuring。Theirsufficiencydecreasedwithknowledge，theywantedmore。Whyshouldthemasterbesoout—of—all—proportionrich？
　　TherewasacrisiswhenGeraldwasaboy，whentheMasters'Federationcloseddowntheminesbecausethemenwouldnotacceptareduction。Thislock—outhadforcedhomethenewconditionstoThomasCrich。BelongingtotheFederation，hehadbeencompelledbyhishonourtoclosethepitsagainsthismen。He，thefather，thePatriarch，wasforcedtodenythemeansoflifetohissons，hispeople。He，therichmanwhowouldhardlyenterheavenbecauseofhispossessions，mustnowturnuponthepoor，uponthosewhowerenearerChristthanhimself，thosewhowerehumbleanddespisedandclosertoperfection，thosewhoweremanlyandnobleintheirlabours，andmustsaytothem:`Yeshallneitherlabournoreatbread。'
　　Itwasthisrecognitionofthestateofwarwhichreallybrokehisheart。
　　Hewantedhisindustrytoberunonlove。Oh，hewantedlovetobethedirectingpowerevenofthemines。Andnow，fromunderthecloakoflove，theswordwascynicallydrawn，theswordofmechanicalnecessity。
　　Thisreallybrokehisheart。Hemusthavetheillusionandnowtheillusionwasdestroyed。Themenwerenotagainsthim，buttheywereagainstthemasters。Itwaswar，andwillynillyhefoundhimselfonthewrongside，inhisownconscience。Seethingmassesofminersmetdaily，carriedawaybyanewreligiousimpulse。Theideaflewthroughthem:`Allmenareequalonearth，'andtheywouldcarrytheideatoitsmaterialfulfilment。
　　Afterall，isitnottheteachingofChrist？Andwhatisanidea，ifnotthegermofactioninthematerialworld。`Allmenareequalinspirit，theyareallsonsofGod。Whencethenthisobviousdisquality？'
　　Itwasareligiouscreedpushedtoitsmaterialconclusion。ThomasCrichatleasthadnoanswer。Hecouldbutadmit，accordingtohissinceretenets，thatthedisqualitywaswrong。Buthecouldnotgiveuphisgoods，whichwerethestuffofdisquality。Sothemenwouldfightfortheirrights。
　　Thelastimpulsesofthelastreligiouspassionleftonearth，thepassionforequality，inspiredthem。
　　Seethingmobsofmenmarchedabout，theirfaceslightedupasforholywar，withasmokeofcupidity。Howdisentanglethepassionforequalityfromthepassionofcupidity，whenbeginsthefightforequalityofpossessions？
　　ButtheGodwasthemachine。EachmanclaimedequalityintheGodheadofthegreatproductivemachine。EverymanequallywaspartofthisGodhead。
　　Butsomehow，somewhere，ThomasCrichknewthiswasfalse。WhenthemachineistheGodhead，andproductionorworkisworship，thenthemostmechanicalmindispurestandhighest，therepresentativeofGodonearth。Andtherestaresubordinate，eachaccordingtohisdegree。
　　Riotsbrokeout，Whatmorepit—headwasinflames。Thiswasthepitfurthestinthecountry，nearthewoods。Soldierscame。FromthewindowsofShortlands，onthatfatalday，couldbeseentheflareoffireintheskynotfaroff，andnowthelittlecollierytrain，withtheworkmen'scarriageswhichwereusedtoconveytheminerstothedistantWhatmore，wascrossingthevalleyfullofsoldiers，fullofredcoats。Thentherewasthefar—offsoundoffiring，thenthelaternewsthatthemobwasdispersed，onemanwasshotdead，thefirewasputout。
　　Gerald，whowasaboy，wasfilledwiththewildestexcitementanddelight。
　　Helongedtogowiththesoldierstoshootthemen。Buthewasnotallowedtogooutofthelodgegates。Atthegateswerestationedsentrieswithguns。Geraldstoodnearthemindelight，whilstgangsofderisiveminersstrolledupanddownthelanes，callingandjeering:
　　`Nowthen，threeha'portho'coppers，let'sseetheeshootthygun。'
　　Insultswerechalkedonthewallsandthefences，theservantsleft。
　　AndallthiswhileThomasCrichwasbreakinghisheart，andgivingawayhundredsofpoundsincharity。Everywheretherewasfreefood，asurfeitoffreefood。Anybodycouldhavebreadforasking，andaloafcostonlythree—ha'pence。Everydaytherewasafreeteasomewhere，thechildrenhadneverhadsomanytreatsintheirlives。OnFridayafternoongreatbasketfulsofbunsandcakesweretakenintotheschools，andgreatpitchersofmilk，theschoolchildrenhadwhattheywanted。Theyweresickwitheatingtoomuchcakeandmilk。
　　Andthenitcametoanend，andthemenwentbacktowork。Butitwasneverthesameasbefore。Therewasanewsituationcreated，anewideareigned。Eveninthemachine，thereshouldbeequality。Nopartshouldbesubordinatetoanyotherpart:allshouldbeequal。Theinstinctforchaoshadentered。Mysticequalityliesinabstraction，notinhavingorindoing，whichareprocesses。Infunctionandprocess，oneman，onepart，mustofnecessitybesubordinatetoanother。Itisaconditionofbeing。
　　Butthedesireforchaoshadrisen，andtheideaofmechanicalequalitywastheweaponofdisruptionwhichshouldexecutethewillofman，thewillforchaos。
　　Geraldwasaboyatthetimeofthestrike，buthelongedtobeaman，tofightthecolliers。Thefatherhoweverwastrappedbetweentwohalftruths，andbroken。HewantedtobeapureChristian，oneandequalwithallmen。
　　Heevenwantedtogiveawayallhehad，tothepoor。Yethewasagreatpromoterofindustry，andheknewperfectlythathemustkeephisgoodsandkeephisauthority。Thiswasasdivineanecessityinhim，astheneedtogiveawayallhepossessed——moredivine，even，sincethiswasthenecessityheactedupon。Yetbecausehedidnotactontheotherideal，itdominatedhim，hewasdyingofchagrinbecausehemustforfeitit。Hewantedtobeafatheroflovingkindnessandsacrificialbenevolence。
　　Thecolliersshoutedtohimabouthisthousandsayear。Theywouldnotbedeceived。
　　WhenGeraldgrewupinthewaysoftheworld，heshiftedtheposition。
　　Hedidnotcareabouttheequality。ThewholeChristianattitudeofloveandself—sacrificewasoldhat。Heknewthatpositionandauthorityweretherightthingintheworld，anditwasuselesstocantaboutit。Theyweretherightthing，forthesimplereasonthattheywerefunctionallynecessary。Theywerenotthebe—allandtheend—all。Itwaslikebeingpartofamachine。Hehimselfhappenedtobeacontrolling，centralpart，themassesofmenwerethepartsvariouslycontrolled。Thiswasmerelyasithappened。Aswellgetexcitedbecauseacentralhubdrivesahundredouterwheelsorbecausethewholeuniversewheelsroundthesun。Afterall，itwouldbemeresillinesstosaythatthemoonandtheearthandSaturnandJupiterandVenushavejustasmuchrighttobethecentreoftheuniverse，eachofthemseparately，asthesun。Suchanassertionismademerelyinthedesireofchaos。
　　Withoutbotheringtothinktoaconclusion，Geraldjumpedtoaconclusion。Heabandonedthewholedemocratic—equalityproblemasaproblemofsilliness。Whatmatteredwasthegreatsocialproductivemachine。Letthatworkperfectly，letitproduceasufficiencyofeverything，leteverymanbegivenarationalportion，greaterorlessaccordingtohisfunctionaldegreeormagnitude，andthen，provisionmade，letthedevilsupervene，leteverymanlookafterhisownamusementsandappetites，solongasheinterferedwithnobody。
　　SoGeraldsethimselftowork，toputthegreatindustryinorder。Inhistravels，andinhisaccompanyingreadings，hehadcometotheconclusionthattheessentialsecretoflifewasharmony。Hedidnotdefinetohimselfatallclearlywhatharmonywas。Thewordpleasedhim，hefelthehadcometohisownconclusions。Andheproceededtoputhisphilosophyintopracticebyforcingorderintotheestablishedworld，translatingthemysticwordharmonyintothepracticalwordorganisation。
　　Immediatelyhesawthefirm，herealisedwhathecoulddo。HehadafighttofightwithMatter，withtheearthandthecoalitenclosed。
　　Thiswasthesoleidea，toturnupontheinanimatematteroftheunderground，andreduceittohiswill。Andforthisfightwithmatter，onemusthaveperfectinstrumentsinperfectorganisation，amechanismsosubtleandharmoniousinitsworkingsthatitrepresentsthesinglemindofman，andbyitsrelentlessrepetitionofgivenmovement，willaccomplishapurposeirresistibly，inhumanly。ItwasthisinhumanprincipleinthemechanismhewantedtoconstructthatinspiredGeraldwithanalmostreligiousexaltation。
　　He，theman，couldinterposeaperfect，changeless，godlikemediumbetweenhimselfandtheMatterhehadtosubjugate。Thereweretwoopposites，hiswillandtheresistantMatteroftheearth。Andbetweenthesehecouldestablishtheveryexpressionofhiswill，theincarnationofhispower，agreatandperfectmachine，asystem，anactivityofpureorder，puremechanicalrepetition，repetitionadinfinitum，henceeternalandinfinite。
　　Hefoundhiseternalandhisinfiniteinthepuremachine—principleofperfectco—ordinationintoonepure，complex，infinitelyrepeatedmotion，likethespinningofawheel;butaproductivespinning，astherevolvingoftheuniversemaybecalledaproductivespinning，aproductiverepetitionthrougheternity，toinfinity。AndthisistheGodmotion，thisproductiverepetitionadinfinitum。AndGeraldwastheGodofthemachine，DeusexMachina。AndthewholeproductivewillofmanwastheGodhead。
　　Hehadhislife—worknow，toextendovertheearthagreatandperfectsysteminwhichthewillofmanransmoothandunthwarted，timeless，aGodheadinprocess。Hehadtobeginwiththemines。Thetermsweregiven:
　　firsttheresistantMatteroftheunderground;thentheinstrumentsofitssubjugation，instrumentshumanandmetallic;andfinallyhisownpurewill，hisownmind。Itwouldneedamarvellousadjustmentofmyriadinstruments，human，animal，metallic，kinetic，dynamic，amarvellouscastingofmyriadtinywholesintoonegreatperfectentirety。Andthen，inthiscasetherewasperfectionattained，thewillofthehighestwasperfectlyfulfilled，thewillofmankindwasperfectlyenacted;forwasnotmankindmysticallycontra—distinguishedagainstinanimateMatter，wasnotthehistoryofmankindjustthehistoryoftheconquestoftheonebytheother？
　　Theminerswereoverreached。Whiletheywerestillinthetoilsofdivineequalityofman，Geraldhadpassedon，grantedessentiallytheircase，andproceededinhisqualityofhumanbeingtofulfilthewillofmankindasawhole。Hemerelyrepresentedtheminersinahighersensewhenheperceivedthattheonlywaytofulfilperfectlythewillofmanwastoestablishtheperfect，inhumanmachine。Butherepresentedthemveryessentially，theywerefarbehind，outofdate，squabblingfortheirmaterialequality。
　　Thedesirehadalreadytransmutedintothisnewandgreaterdesire，foraperfectinterveningmechanismbetweenmanandMatter，thedesiretotranslatetheGodheadintopuremechanism。
　　AssoonasGeraldenteredthefirm，theconvulsionofdeathranthroughtheoldsystem。Hehadallhislifebeentorturedbyafuriousanddestructivedemon，whichpossessedhimsometimeslikeaninsanity。Thistempernowenteredlikeavirusintothefirm，andtherewerecrueleruptions。Terribleandinhumanwerehisexaminationsintoeverydetail;therewasnoprivacyhewouldspare，nooldsentimentbuthewouldturnitover。Theoldgreymanagers，theoldgreyclerks，thedodderingoldpensioners，helookedatthem，andremovedthemassomuchlumber。Thewholeconcernseemedlikeahospitalofinvalidemployees。Hehadnoemotionalqualms。Hearrangedwhatpensionswerenecessary，helookedforefficientsubstitutes，andwhenthesewerefound，hesubstitutedthemfortheoldhands。
　　`I'veapitifulletterherefromLetherington，'hisfatherwouldsay，inatoneofdeprecationandappeal。`Don'tyouthinkthepoorfellowmightkeeponalittlelonger。Ialwaysfanciedhedidverywell。'
　　`I'vegotamaninhisplacenow，father。He'llbehappieroutofit，believeme。Youthinkhisallowanceisplenty，don'tyou？'
　　`Itisnottheallowancethathewants，poorman。Hefeelsitverymuch，thatheissuperannuated。Sayshethoughthehadtwentymoreyearsofworkinhimyet。'
　　`NotofthiskindofworkIwant。Hedoesn'tunderstand。'
　　Thefathersighed。Hewantednottoknowanymore。Hebelievedthepitswouldhavetobeoverhaulediftheyweretogoonworking。Andafterall，itwouldbeworstinthelongrunforeverybody，iftheymustclosedown。
　　Sohecouldmakenoanswertotheappealsofhisoldandtrustyservants，hecouldonlyrepeat`Geraldsays。'
　　Sothefatherdrewmoreandmoreoutofthelight。Thewholeframeofthereallifewasbrokenforhim。Hehadbeenrightaccordingtohislights。
　　Andhislightshadbeenthoseofthegreatreligion。Yettheyseemedtohavebecomeobsolete，tobesupersededintheworld。Hecouldnotunderstand。
　　Heonlywithdrewwithhislightsintoaninnerroom，intothesilence。
　　Thebeautifulcandlesofbelief，thatwouldnotdotolighttheworldanymore，theywouldstillburnsweetlyandsufficientlyintheinnerroomofhissoul，andinthesilenceofhisretirement。
　　Geraldrushedintothereformofthefirm，beginningwiththeoffice。
　　Itwasneedfultoeconomiseseverely，tomakepossiblethegreatalterationshemustintroduce。
　　`Whatarethesewidows'coals？'heasked。