IV
As Babbitt went out to his car that evening he saw Vergil
Gunch coming down the block. He raised his hand in salutation,
but Gunch ignored it and crossed the street. He was
certain that Gunch had seen him. He drove home in sharp discomfort.
His wife attacked at once: "Georgie dear, Muriel Frink
was in this afternoon, and she says that Chum says the
committee of this Good Citizens' League especially asked you to
join and you wouldn't. Don't you think it would be better?
You know all the nicest people belong, and the League stands
for—''
"I know what the League stands for! It stands for the
suppression of free speech and free thought and everything
else! I don't propose to be bullied and rushed into joining anything,
and it isn't a question of whether it's a good league or
a bad league or what the hell kind of a league it is; it's just
a question of my refusing to be told I got to—''
"But dear, if you don't join, people might criticize you.''
"Let 'em criticize!''
"But I mean nice people!''
"Rats, I— Matter of fact, this whole League is just a
fad. It's like all these other organizations that start off with
such a rush and let on they're going to change the whole works,
and pretty soon they peter out and everybody forgets all
about 'em!''
"But if it's the fad now, don't you think
you—''
"No, I don't! Oh, Myra, please quit nagging me about it.
I'm sick of hearing about the confounded G.C.L. I almost
wish I'd joined it when Verg first came around, and got it over.
And maybe I'd 've come in to-day if the committee hadn't tried
to bullyrag me, but, by God, as long as I'm a free-born independent
American cit—''
"Now, George, you're talking exactly like the German furnace-man.''
"Oh, I am, am I! Then, I won't talk at all!''
He longed, that evening, to see Tanis Judique, to be strengthened
by her sympathy. When all the family were up-stairs he
got as far as telephoning to her apartment-house, but he was
agitated about it and when the janitor answered he blurted,
"Nev' mind—I'll call later,'' and hung up the receiver.
