HILDA (listening incredulously).  And to get ready you are willing to link arms now with Senator Bough—­a man you once called the lackey of Wall Street—­a man who has always opposed every democratic principle.

WHITE.  Yes.  Don’t you see the Government is beginning to realize it can’t do without us?  Don’t you see my appointment is an acknowledgment of the rising tide of radicalism in the world?  Don’t you see, with the prestige that will come to me from this appointment, I will have greater power after the war; power to bring about the realization of all our dreams; power to demand—­even at the Peace table itself, perhaps—­that all wars must end?

HILDA.  Do you actually believe you will have any power with your own people when you have compromised them for a temporary expediency?

WHITE (with a gesture).  The leader must be wiser than the people who follow.

HILDA.  So, contempt for your people is the first thing your new power has brought you! (He makes a gesture of denial.) You feel you are above them—­not of them.  Do you believe for a moment that Senator Bough has anything but contempt for you, too?

WHITE (confidently).  He needs me.

HILDA.  Needs you?  Don’t you understand why he had you appointed on that committee?  He wanted to get you out of the way.

WHITE.  Isn’t that an acknowledgment of my power?

HILDA.  Yes.  You’re a great asset now.  You’re a “reformed” radical.  Why, Will, he’ll use you in the capitals of Europe to advertise his liberalism; just as the prohibitionist exhibits a reformed drunkard.

WHITE.  And I tell you, Hilda, after the war I shall be stronger than he is, stronger than any of them.

HILDA.  No man is strong unless he does what he feels is right.  No, no, Will; you’ve convicted yourself with your own eloquence.  You’ve wanted to do this for some reason.  But it isn’t the one you’ve told me.  No; no.

WHITE (angrily).  You doubt my sincerity?

HILDA.  No; only the way you have read yourself.

WHITE.  Well, if you think I’ve tried to make it easy for myself you are mistaken.  Is it easy to pull out of the rut and habit of years?  Easy to know my friends will jeer and say I’ve sold out?  Easy to have you misunderstand? (Goes to her.) Hilda, I’m doing this for their good.  I’m doing it—­just as Wallace is—­because I feel it’s right.

HILDA.  No; you shouldn’t say that.  You are not doing this for the same reason Wallace is.  He believes in this war.  He has accepted it all simply without a question.  If you had seen the look in his eyes, you would have known he was a dedicated spirit; there was no shadow, no doubt; it was pure flame.  But you!  You believe differently!  You can’t hush the mind that for twenty years has thought no war ever could henceforth be justified.  You can’t give yourself to this war without tricking yourself with phrases.