much now, since he faced the inevitable, but
thought the knowledge might in future guide and
strengthen him. He talked rapidly, hinting at
beliefs and idolatries, comparing West with East,
and East with West, while he stood motionless,
one hand upon the fence -- earnest, sincere, strong
in his request. When he had uttered his last sad
word, Helen found herself, as she searched his
drawn profile pityingly, no more able to deny him
an answer than at the time of their first chance
meeting she could have controlled the fate which
had brought it about.

"Stephen," she burst out, "I will tell you -- though
I don't want to tell you -- remember!
And if in the telling," she hurried on, "I prove
rather too candid -- please stop me! You will,
won't you?"

He nodded listlessly.

"To begin with," she began, quietly, dreading
her task, "we as a people are selfish. We are isolated
here -- are far from the center of things -- but
only certain things. We are quite our own
center in certain other ways. But we are selfish
as regards advancement, and being selfish in this
way -- being what we are and where we are -- we
live solely for that advancement -- for the privilege
of doing what we will, and of knowing! It is the
first law of the country down here -- of my people!
We have aims and aspirations and courage all
peculiar to ourselves. And when we meet your
type, as I met you, we come -- (Now, stop me
when I get too severe!) -- we come to know our

[[136]]

p135 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p136w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p137

v?