``I saw him this afternoon,'' said Hull, glad that the tension of
the silence was broken.

``Then you've got something to talk about.''

``The big street car strike is on.''

``So father said at dinner. I suppose Victor Dorn caused it.''

``No--he's opposed to it. He's queer. I don't exactly
understand his ideas. He says strikes are ridiculous-- that it's
like trying to cure smallpox by healing up one single sore.''

Jane gave a shiver of lady-like disgust. ``How-- nasty,'' said
she.

``I'm telling you what he said. But he says that the only way
human beings learn how to do things right is by doing them
wrong--so while he's opposed to strikes he's also in favor of
them.''

``Even _I_ understand that,'' said Jane. ``I don't think it's
difficult.''

``Doesn't it strike you as--as inconsistent?''

``Oh--bother consistency!'' scoffed the girl. ``That's another
middle class virtue that sensible people loathe as a vice.''