Robert Hardys Seven Days | Page 2

your lodge and your scientific society
and your reading circle and your directors' meeting, the children see
about as much of you as you do of them. How many nights in a week
do you give to us, Robert? Do you think it is strange that the children
go outside for their amusements? Our home"--Mrs. Hardy paused and
looked around at the costly interior of the room where the two
were--"our home is well furnished with everything but our own
children."
The man on the lounge was silent. He felt the sharpness of the thrust
made by his wife, and knew it was too true to be denied. But Mr. Hardy
was, above all things else, selfish. He had not the remotest intention of
giving up his club or his scientific society or his frequent cosy dinners
with business men down town because his wife spent so many lonely
deserted evenings at home, and because his children were almost
strangers to him. But it annoyed him, as a respectable citizen, to have
his children making acquaintances that he did not approve, and it grated
on his old-fashioned, inherited New England ideas that his boys and
girls should be away from home so often in the evening, and especially
on Sunday evening. The maxim of Robert Hardy's life was
"Self-interest first." As long as he was not thwarted in his own
pleasures he was as good-natured as the average man. He provided
liberally for the household expenses, and his wife and children were
supplied with money and the means to travel as they requested it. But
the minute he was crossed in his own plans, or anyone demanded of
him a service that compelled some self-denial, he became hard,
ill-natured, and haughty.
He had been a member of the church at Barton for twenty-five years,
one of the trustees, and a liberal giver. He prided himself on that fact.
But so far as giving any of his time or personal service was concerned,

he would as soon have thought of giving all his property away to the
first poor man he met. His minister had this last week written him an
earnest, warm-hearted letter, expressing much pleasure at the service he
had rendered so many years as a trustee, and asking him if he would not
come to the Wednesday evening meeting that week and take some part,
whatever he chose, to help along. It was a season of anxious interest
among many in the church, and the pastor earnestly desired the
presence and help of all the members.
Robert had read the letter through hastily and smiled a little scornfully.
What! he take part in a prayer meeting! He couldn't remember when he
had attended one--they were too dull for him. He wondered at Mr.
Jones for writing such a letter, and almost felt as though he had been
impertinent. He threw the letter in the waste basket and did not even
answer it. He would not have been guilty of such a lack of courtesy in
regard to a business letter, but a letter from his minister was another
thing. The idea of replying to a letter from him never occurred to Mr.
Hardy. And when Thursday night came he went down to a meeting of
the chess club and had a good time with his favourite game: for he was
a fine player, and was engaged in a series of games which were being
played for the State championship.
The superintendent of the Sunday-school had lately timidly approached
Mr. Hardy and asked him if he would not take a class of boys in the
Sunday-school. What! he take a class of boys! He, the influential,
wealthy manager of one of the largest railroad shops in the world--he
give his time to the teaching of a Sunday-school class! He excused
himself on the score of lack of time, and the very same evening of his
interview with the superintendent he went to the theatre to hear a
roaring farce, and after he reached home spent an hour in his favourite
study of chemistry in his laboratory at the top of his house: for Mr.
Hardy was a man of considerable power as a student, and he had an
admirable physical constitution, capable of the most terrible strain.
Anything that gave him pleasure he was willing to work for. He was
not lazy; but the idea of giving his personal time and service and talents
to bless the world had no place in his mind.

And so, as he lay on the lounge that evening and listened to his wife's
plain statement concerning his selfishness, he had no intention of
giving up a single thing that gratified his tastes and fed his pride.
After a silence just about long enough for someone