"
Margaret was disliking him, his manner was so offensively familiar
and patronizing--and her plans concerning him made her
contemptuous of herself, and therefore resentful against him. "I'm
greatly flattered," said she.
"No, you're not. But you ought to be. I suppose if you had met
that old chap on the pedestal there when he was my age you'd have
felt toward him much as you do toward me."
"And I suppose he'd have been just about as much affected by it as
you are."
"Just about. It was a good idea, planting his statue there to warn
the fellow that happens to be in the White House not to get too
cultured. You know it was because the gang that was in got too
refined and forgot whom this country belonged to that old Jackson
was put in office. The same thing will happen again."
"And you'll be the person?" suggested Margaret with a smile of
raillery.
"If I show I'm fit for the job," replied Craig soberly. It was the
first time she had ever heard him admit a doubt about himself.
"The question is," he went on, "have I got the strength of
character and the courage? ... What do you think?"
"I don't know anything about it," said Margaret with polite
indifference.
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