"I do not impeach you or your claims, but I ask that you leave this
village as you found it, these happy people undisturbed in their homes.
Ah, go! Go now, and you will be a name to them, remembered always with
admiration. You have been courageous, you have been loved, you have been
inspiring--ah, yes, I admit it, even to me!--inspiring! The spirit of
adventure in you, your hopes, your plans to do great things, roused me.
It was that made me your ally more than aught else. Truly and frankly, I
do not think that I am convinced of anything save that you are no coward,
and that you love a cause. Let it go at that--you must, you must. You
came in the night, privately and mysteriously; go in the night, this
night, mysteriously--an inscrutable, romantic figure. If you are all you
say, and I should be glad to think so,--go where your talents will have
greater play, your claims larger recognition. This is a small game here.
Leave us as you found us. We shall be the better for it; our poor folk
here will be the better. Proceed with this, and who can tell what may
happen? I was wrong, wrong--I see that now-to have encouraged you at all.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209