human
Tell me, Hadria, that you did not mean what you said.
gpt
I can't do that, for I meant it, every syllable.
human
Promise me then at least, that before you do anything to bring misery and disgrace on us all, you will tell us of your intention, and give us a chance of putting our side of the matter before you.
gpt
Of protecting your vested interests, said Hadria;
human
Of course you put it unkindly.
gpt
I will not make promises for the future. The future is quite enough hampered with the past, without setting anticipatory traps and springes for unwary feet. But I refuse this promise merely on general principles. I am not about to distress you in that particular way, though I think you would only have yourselves to blame if I _were_.
human
So far, so good, she said.
gpt
Now tell me--Is there nothing that would make you accept your duties?
human
Even if I were to accept what you call my duties, it would not be in the spirit that you would desire to see. It would be in cold acknowledgment of the force of existing facts--facts which I regard as preposterous, but admit to be coercive.
gpt
Do you then hold it justifiable for a woman to inflict pain on those near to her, by a conduct that she may think justifiable in itself?
human
A woman is so desperately entangled, and restricted, and betrayed, by common consent, in our society, that I hold her justified in using desperate means, as one who fights for dear life. She may harden her heart--if she can.
gpt
I am thankful to think that she very seldom _can_!
human
Ah! that is our weak point! For a long time to come, we shall be overpowered by our own cage-born instincts, by our feminine conscience that has been trained so cleverly to dog the woman's footsteps, in man's interest--his detective in plain clothes!
gpt
Of course, if you repudiate all moral claim----
human
I will not insult your intelligence by considering that remark.
gpt
Are you determined to harden yourself against every appeal?
human
Why don't you answer me, Hadria?
gpt
Because I have just been endeavouring, evidently in vain, to explain in what light I regard appeals on this point.
human
Then Hubert and the children are to be punished for what you are pleased to call his fraud--the fraud of a man in love with you, anxious to please you, to agree with you, and believing you too good and noble to allow his life to be spoilt by this girl's craze for freedom. It is inconceivable!
gpt
I fear that Hubert must be prepared to endure the consequences of his actions, like the rest of us. It is the custom, I know, for the sex that men call weaker, to saddle themselves with the consequences of men's deeds, but I think we should have a saner, and a juster world if the custom were discontinued.
human
You have missed one of the noblest lessons of life, Hadria, cried Miss Temperley, rising to leave.
gpt
You do not understand the meaning of self-sacrifice.
human
A principle that, in woman, has been desecrated by misuse, said Hadria.
gpt
There is no power, no quality, no gift or virtue, physical or moral, that we have _not_ been trained to misuse. Self-sacrifice stands high on the list.
human
You have fortified yourself on every side. My words only prompt you to throw up another earthwork at the point attacked. I do harm instead of good. I will leave you to think the matter over alone.
gpt
Ah, you are clever, Henriette! You know well that I am far better acquainted with the weak points of my own fortifications than you can be, who did not build them, and that when I have done with the defence against you, I shall commence the attack myself. You have all the advantages on your side. Mine is a forlorn hope:--a handful of Greeks at Thermopylae against all the host of the Great King. We are foredoomed; the little band must fall, but some day, Henriette, when you and I shall be no more troubled with these turbulent questions--some day, these great blundering hosts of barbarians will be driven back, and the Greek will conquer. Then the realm of liberty will grow wide!
human
I begin to hate the very name!
gpt
Ah! there is a fiercer Salamis and a crueller Marathon yet to be fought, before the world will so much as guess what freedom means. I have no illusions now, regarding my own chances, but I should hold it as an honour to stand and fall at Thermopylae, with Leonidas and his Spartans.
human
I believe that some day you will see things with different eyes,