The Last Gentleman

moment.
    Again Sutter’s feet hit the floor. “Goddamn it, Barrett, what do you mean by requiring answers from me? Why should I answer you? What are you to me? Christ, if you recall I never solicited your company in the first place.”
    â€œI am asking nevertheless,” said the engineer cheerfully.
    â€œWhy me, for Christ’s sake?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œWhat do you take me for, some pissant wise man, ole rebel Sutter whom the yokels back home can’t stand and who therefore by your peculiar logic must be onto something just because they’re not? You know something, Barrett? There’s one thing I’ve never been able to get the straight of, and that is what it is you want of me. I suspect it is one of two things. You either want me to tell you to fornicate or not to fornicate, but for the life of me I can’t tell which it is.”
    â€œThen tell me,” said the engineer smiling.
    â€œI will not tell you.”
    â€œTell me to be chaste and I will do it. Yes! I will do it easily!” he said, striking the rail softly with his fist. “All you have to do is tell me.”
    â€œI will not tell you.”
    â€œThen tell me not to be chaste.”
    â€œI will not.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBarrett, since when is failure, my failure, a badge of wisdom?”
    â€œI did not think of it that way,” said the engineer, frowning. Suddenly he did see Sutter for the first time as the dismalest failure, a man who had thrown himself away. He marveled at his, the engineer’s, being here.
    â€œI know you don’t,” said Sutter, not unkindly. “But maybe you better start. For both our sakes. Be done with me. Go stay with Jamie.”
    â€œThat’s what I’m trying to do,” said the other absently.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œBe done with you.”
    â€œI fervently wish you success.”
    â€œYes,” said the engineer, cheering up. “Yes! You’re right. There is no reason why I can’t just get up and go about my business, is there?”
    â€œNo reason.”
    â€œTo answer your earlier question: yes, Kitty and I are getting married.”
    â€œYou mentioned it.”
    â€œWe spoke of many things.”
    â€œGood.”
    â€œAnd settled a fair proportion of them.”
    â€œGood.”
    â€œIt turns out we see eye to eye on most things.”
    â€œExcellent.”
    â€œIt seems that Mr. Vaught has made Lamar a vice-president and that he is going to offer me the position of personnel manager. I actually feel I might do well at it.”
    â€œI have no doubt of it.”
    â€œFor the first time I feel fairly certain of what I want to do.”
    â€œI’m glad to hear it.”
    â€œWe even have a house in mind. Cap’n Andy Mickle’s place on South Ridge. Do you know it?”
    â€œVery well indeed.”
    â€œYou’ve been there?”
    â€œA dozen times.”
    â€œWhy? Oh. You mean to treat Cap’n Andy?”
    â€œA colossal bore. He bored himself to death. But that’s no reflection on the house. An ideal spot. The best view on the ridge.”
    The engineer frowned, thinking of the buzzards circling the doleful plain and Cap’n Andy striding the “bridge.” But he quickly brightened. “We’ve even agreed on the same denomination.”
    â€œThe same what? ”
    â€œDenomination. Church. Kitty has become quite religious. She is convinced of the wisdom of our having the same church home, to use her expression.” The engineer laughed tolerantly, shaking his head at the ways of women, and wiped a merry tolerant little tear from his eye.
    â€œJesus,” muttered Sutter.
    â€œEh?” The other cocked his good ear.
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œYou don’t fool me, Dr. Vaught. Don’t forget that I’ve read your casebook. Though I do not pretend to understand everything, that part didn’t escape me.”
    â€œWhat part?”
    â€œYour awareness of the prime importance of the religious dimension of life.”
    â€œThe religious dimension of life?” Sutter looked at him suspiciously. “Barrett, are you putting me on?”
    â€œNo sir.”
    â€œThen if you’re not, you’re doing something worse.”
    â€œSir?” asked the engineer politely.
    â€œNever mind.”
    â€œDr. Vaught,” said the engineer earnestly. “There is one more thing. Then I