Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/217

 good for human nature's daily food," he said with a softness in his deep voice, which was enchanting.

"Oh, I'm very far from being that." She smiled and shook her head. "I won't own that I'm as bad as all that—at least I hope I'm not."

"But if you insist on being so uncommonly self-sacrificing, you're in danger, aren't you?"

"One can't call it self-sacrifice altogether."

"Afraid of being bored, eh?"

"I could never be bored with Jack," she said gravely. "But I don't see why one should pat oneself on the back for trying to live up to one's principles."

"Principles! May I ask what principles are involved in a case of this kind?"

"'Do unto others as you would be done by.' It's rather priggish, I admit, but it's a splendid motto, if only one is equal to it. As a rule it is much too much for me, but in this case I want to do my best to live up to it."

"There you go again." The old man shook an amused finger at her. "Why it's altruism, there's no other word for it."

"It's common sense—if one is able to think through to it."

"And that is why," he said, with almost the air of a father, "you give up your young man—simply because of that?"

She nodded. But her smile was rather drawn.

"Tell me, Miss Lawrence"—the curiosity of his Grace was mounting to a pitch that enabled him to match her frankness with his own—"why are you so sure that you will be unacceptable here?"