That is the process which is often called disillusionment; and it
is a sad enough business for people who only look at one side of
the medal, and who brood over the fact that they have been
disappointed and have failed. For such as these, there follow the
faded years of cynicism and dreariness. But that disillusionment,
that humiliation, are the freshest and most beautiful things in the
world, for people who have real generosity of spirit, and whose
vanity has been of a superficial kind; because they thus realise
that these great gifts are real and true things, but that they must
be deserved and not captured; and then perhaps such people begin
their life-work afresh, in a humble and hopeful spirit; and if it
be too late for them to do what they might have once done, they do
not waste time in futile regret, but are grateful for ever so
little love and tenderness. After all, they have lived, they have
learnt by experience; and it does not yet appear what we shall be.
Somewhere, far hence--who knows?--we shall make a better start.
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