Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Butwiththesesmallachievementshewasbynomeanssatisfied.Thelargenessofhisfather’scharacter,modifiedinLymanbyacounter-influenceofselfishness,hadproducedinhimaninordinateambition.Wherehisfatherduringhispoliticalcareerhadconsideredhimselfonlyasanexponentofprincipleshestrovetoapply,Lymansawbuttheoffice,hisownpersonalaggrandisement.Hebelongedtothenewschool,whereinobjectswereattainednotbyorationsbeforesenatesandassemblies,butbysessionsofcommittees,caucuses,compromisesandexpedients.HisgoalwastobeinfactwhatMagnuswasonlyinname—governor.Lyman,withshutteeth,hadresolvedthatsomedayhewouldsitinthegubernatorialchairinSacramento.

           “Lymanisdoingwell,”answeredMagnus.“Icouldwishhewasmorepronouncedinhisconvictions,lesswillingtocompromise,butIbelievehimtobeearnestandtohaveatalentforgovernmentandcivics.Hisambitiondoeshimcredit,andifheoccupiedhimselfalittlemorewithmeansandalittlelesswithends,hewould,Iamsure,betheidealservantofthepeople.ButIamnotafraid.ThetimewillcomewhentheStatewillbeproudofhim.”

           AsHarranturnedtheteamintothedrivewaythatleduptoAnnixter’shouse,Magnusremarked:

           “Harran,isn’tthatyoungAnnixterhimselfontheporch?”

           Harrannoddedandremarked:

           “Bytheway,Governor,Iwouldn’tseemtoocordialinyourinvitationtoAnnixter.Hewillbegladtocome,Iknow,butifyouseemtowanthimtoomuch,itisjustlikehisconfoundedobstinacytomakeobjections.