"He's
a damned arrogant cuss."
"He has not only the courage of his convictions," Ainsworth responded,
"but he has also the courage of his dislikes."
"He will never give up the assumption that he is above all rules," the
first speaker continued. "He feels that he is being bullied if he is
ever asked to submit to a law of any kind."
"The committee are bound to put things through this time. They've been
waiting for a chance to jump on somebody for a long time, and Fenton
put a rod in pickle for himself when he tried to run Rangely in for
secretary last election."
"One thing is certain," Ainsworth said, rising and buttoning his coat;
"Fenton isn't an easy man to tackle, and if we don't have some music
out of this before we are done, I shall be surprised."
There was a general feeling that something unusual would come of this
action on the part of the Executive Committee. Fenton was a man of so
much audacity, so fertile in resource, and so persistent in his
efforts, that while nobody knew what he would do, it was generally
supposed that he would make a fight; and expectation was alive to see
it.
As to Fenton, he was at first completely overwhelmed by the summons
from the committee. Disgrace, reproof,--even examination was a horrible
and unspeakable humiliation, which it seemed to him impossible to bear.
He hated life and was so thoroughly wretched as to be physically almost
prostrated, although his strong will kept him upon his feet still.
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