Chapter 15

           TherewasaletterfromHildaonthebreakfast-tray.’FatherisgoingtoLondonthisweek,andIshallcallforyouonThursdayweek,June17th.Youmustbereadysothatwecangoatonce.Idon’twanttowastetimeatWragby,it’sanawfulplace.IshallprobablystaythenightatRetfordwiththeColemans,soIshouldbewithyouforlunch,Thursday.Thenwecouldstartatteatime,andsleepperhapsinGrantham.ItisnouseourspendinganeveningwithClifford.Ifhehatesyourgoing,itwouldbenopleasuretohim.’

           So!Shewasbeingpushedroundonthechess-boardagain.

           Cliffordhatedhergoing,butitwasonlybecausehedidn’tfeelsafeinherabsence.Herpresence,forsomereason,madehimfeelsafe,andfreetodothethingshewasoccupiedwith.Hewasagreatdealatthepits,andwrestlinginspiritwiththealmosthopelessproblemsofgettingouthiscoalinthemosteconomicalfashionandthensellingitwhenhe’dgotitout.Heknewheoughttofindsomewayofusingit,orconvertingit,sothatheneedn’tsellit,orneedn’thavethechagrinoffailingtosellit.Butifhemadeelectricpower,couldhesellthatoruseit?Andtoconvertintooilwasasyettoocostlyandtooelaborate.Tokeepindustryalivetheremustbemoreindustry,likeamadness.

           Itwasamadness,anditrequiredamadmantosucceedinit.Well,hewasalittlemad.Conniethoughtso.Hisveryintensityandacumenintheaffairsofthepitsseemedlikeamanifestationofmadnesstoher,hisveryinspirationsweretheinspirationsofinsanity.