I forgot to reckon that when we draw largely upon
Fate she generally extorts a crushing interest.
"First came the wish for your respect; then the desire to
stand well with such men as Fraide--to feel the stir of
emulation and competition--to prove myself strong in the one
career I knew myself really fitted for. For a time the second
ambition overshadowed the first, but the first was bound to
reassert itself; and in a moment of egotism I conceived the
notion of winning your enthusiasm as well as your respect--"
Eve's face, alert and questioning, suddenly paled as a doubt
crossed her mind.
"Then it was only--only to stand well with me?"
"I believed it was only the desire to stand well with you; I
believed it until the night of my speech--if you can credit
anything so absurd--then on that night, as I came up the
stairs to the gallery and saw you standing there, the
blindness fell away and I knew that I loved you." As he said
the last words he released her hands and turned aside, missing
the quick wave of joy and color that crossed her face.
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