It. was not the conqueror she loved
in him; it was the fighter. Not in the hour of triumph but in the hour
of despair she would have yearned to put her arms about him.
"Unpopularity, abuse, failure," it was against the fear of such that she
would have guarded him. Yes, she had dreamed of leadership, influence,
command. But it was the leadership of the valiant few against the hosts
of the oppressors that she claimed. Wealth, honours! Would she have
given up a life of ease, shut herself off from society, if these had been
her standards? "_Mesalliance_!" Had the male animal no instinct,
telling it when it was loved with all a woman's being, so that any other
union would be her degradation.
It was better for him he should think as he did. She rose and held out
her hand.
"I will stay with her for a little while," she said. "Till I feel there
is no more need. Then I must get back to work."
He looked into her eyes, holding her hand, and she felt his body
trembling. She knew he was about to speak, and held up a warning hand.
"That's all, my lad," she said with a smile.
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