Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/226

 her tone. "She has done exactly as one could have wished."

"If one could only see the thing as clearly as you do!" he said with a reluctant shake of the head. "At any rate let us try to be as just as the circumstances will allow us to be."

"Can we hope to do justice and not hurt other people?"

"I'm afraid that's impossible, as things are. But for a moment let us try to consider the whole matter from her point of view. Perhaps you'll allow me to say at once that the course you insisted on taking seems to have justified itself completely. She is a girl to be proud of; and she appears to be living a happy and useful life. One sees now how wise it was not to take half-measures. She has been allowed to fight her own battle with the gifts of the good God, and the result does your foresight the highest credit."

The judicial words, very simply uttered, brought a flood of color to the pale cheeks. But listening with bent head, she did not look up, nor did she say a word in reply.

"The heroic method has proved to be the right one, but I think now we have to be careful not to take any unfair advantage of that fact. It's a terribly difficult case, but as far as we can we ought not to overlook what is due to the girl herself."

"But the others!" said Harriet with fear in her eyes.

"Yes, a terribly difficult situation." The Duke sighed. "But for the moment let us try to see the matter simply as it affects her. She has been made to suffer a grievous injustice so that others might benefit. The question is, must she still be made to sacrifice herself?"