Page:Edgar Jepson--the four philanthropists.djvu/258

248 "I know you would. But do look at the matter fairly. You are, after all, with all your altruism, a wealthy capitalist. Angel, if she had married you, would be a capitalist's wife. Sooner or later the capitalist temper is bound to assert itself, and what now appears to you the noblest philanthropy will appear merely criminal. In the ordinary course of married life you would have your little quarrels, and you'd forever be twitting one another with your respective murders. Would that make for connubial bliss, I ask you?"

"I think it's devilish hard that a man's philanthropic endeavor should be dragged into matters of sentiment," said Chelubai. "What's it got to do with them anyway?"

"They can't be separated; they can't, really," I said earnestly. "I look upon the practical philanthropist as a natural celibate. I could not consent to his paying his addresses to my sister." "Then you refuse me your consent?" said Chelubai curtly.

"I do; and I'm sorry to do it, but I cannot overlook your unsuitable profession," I said with tempered firmness.

I saw that he was deeply hurt and about to break out bitterly upon me; but he checked himself, reflecting doubtless that I had right upon my side, and also that he would lose all chance of attaining his end if he resented my firmness to the point of