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use？ Tell me all about everything。 You're the first real live socialist I ever
caught； and I mean to make the most of you。〃
〃But I'm unfortunately not exactly a socialist。〃
〃An anarchist will do just as well。〃
〃Nor an anarchist。 Sorry。〃
〃Oh； well； you're something that's dreadful。 You haven't the proper
bump of respect for father and for Uncle Joe。 Now why haven't you？〃
And before he knew it this young woman had drawn from him
glimpses of what life meant to him。 He talked to her of the pressure of the
struggle for existence； of the poverty that lies like a blight over whole
sections of cities； spreading disease and cruelty and disorder； crushing the
souls of its victims； poisoning their hearts and bodies。 He showed her a
world at odds and ends； in which it was accepted as the natural thing that
some should starve while others were waited upon by servants。
He made her see how the tendency of environment is to reduce all
things to a question of selfinterest； and how the great triumphant fact of
life is that love and kindness persist。 Her interest was insatiable。 She
poured questions upon him； made him tell her stories of the things he had
seen in that strange underworld that was farther from her than Asia。 So she
learned of Oscar Marchant； coughing all day over the shoes he half…soled
and going out at night to give his waning life to the service of those who
needed him。 He told herwithout giving namesthe story of Sam Miller
and his wife； of shop girls forced by grinding poverty to that easier way
which leads to death； of little children driven by want into factories which
crushed the youth out of them。
Her eyes with the star flash in them never left his face。 She was
absorbed； filled with a strange emotion that made her lashes moist。 She
saw not only the tragedy and waste of life； but a glorious glimpse of the
way out。 This man and his friends set the common good above their
private gain。 For them a new heart was being born into the world。 They
were no longer consumed with blind greed； with love of their petty selves。
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THE VISION SPLENDID
They were no longer full of cowardice and distrust and enmity。 Life was a
thing beautiful to them。 It was flushed with the color of hope； of fine
enthusiasms。 They might suffer。 They might be defeated。 But nothing
could extinguish the joy in their souls。 They walked like gods； immortals；
these brothers to the spent and the maimed。 For they had found spiritual
values in it that made any material profit of small importance。 Alice got a
vision of the great truth that is back of all true reforms； all improvement；
all progress。
〃Love；〃 she said almost in a whisper； 〃is forgetting self。〃
Jeff lost his stride and pulled up。 He thought he could not have heard
aright。 〃I beg your pardon？〃
〃Nothing。 I was just thinking out loud。 Go on please。〃
But she had broken the thread of his talk。 He attempted to take it up
again； but he was still trying for a lead when Alice saw Mrs。 Van Tyle and
Beauchamp coming toward them。
She rose。 Her eyes were the brightest Jeff had ever seen。 They were
filled with an ardent tenderness。 It was as if she were wrapped in a
spiritual exaltation。
〃Thank you。 Thank you。 I can't tell you what you've done for me。〃
She turned and walked quickly away。 To be dragged back to the
commonplace at once was more than she could bear。 First she must get
alone with herself； must take stock of this new emotion that ran like wine
through her blood。 A pulse throbbed in her throat； for she was in a
passionate glow of altruism。
〃I'm glad of lifeglad of itglad of it！〃 she murmured through the veil
she had lowered to screen her face from observation。
It had come to her as a revelation straight from Heaven that there can
be no salvation without service。 And the motive back of service must be
love。 Love！ That was what Jesus had come to teach the world； and all
these years it had warped and mystified his message。
She felt that life could never again be gray or colorless。 For there was
work waiting that she could do； service that she could give。 And surely
there could be no greater happiness than to find her work and do it gladly。
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THE VISION SPLENDID
CHAPTER 17
All sorts of absurd assumptions pass current as fixed and non…
debatable standards。 We might be free； and we tie ourselves to the slavery
of rutted convention。 Afraid of ideas； we come to no definite philosophy of
life that is the result of clear and pellucid thinking。
We must get rid of our bonds； but only in order to take on new ones。
For our convictions will shackle us。 The difference is that then we shall be
servants of Truth and not of dead Tradition。 From the Note Book of a
Dreamer。
THE CHAPERONE EXPLAINS THAT THE REBEL IS
IMPOSSIBLE AND THE CHAPERONED BEGS LEAVE TO DIFFER
PART 1
〃And why mustn't I？〃 Alice demanded vigorously。
Her cousin regarded her with indolent amusement。 〃My dear； you are
positively the most energetic person I know。 It is refreshing to see with
what interest you enter into a discussion。〃
Miss Frome； very erect and ready for argument； watched her steadily
from the piano stool of their joint sitting room。 〃Well？〃
〃I didn't say you mustn't； my dear。 I know better than to deal in
imperatives with Miss Alice。 What I did was mildly to suggest that you are
going rather far。 It's all very well to be civil； but〃 Mrs。 Van Tyle
shrugged her shoulders and let it go at that。 She was leaning back in an
easychair and across its arm her wrist hung。 Between the fingers； polished
like old ivory to the tapering pink nails； was a lighted cigarette。
〃Why shouldn't I bepleasant to him？ I like him。〃 Her color deepened；
but the eyes of the girl did not give way。 There was in them a little flare of
defiance。
〃Be pleasant to him if you like； and if it amuses you。 But〃 Again
Valencia stopped； but after a puff or two at her cigarette she added
presently： 〃Don't get too interested