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。