"I do. As if that makes any difference--any real, true difference, I mean, when it comes to the heart of things. Oh, I've been thinking of such matters a great deal lately. I suppose because I'm among Americans. It must be that which has put the subject so much in my head."
"Tell me what you have been thinking."
"Oh, I can hardly tell. But for one thing, I've begun to see that a man--a man like you, for instance, Mr. Brett--oughtn't to call himself unlucky because he's poor, and has perhaps not been able to have as many advantages as richer men. He ought simply to feel that he has it in him to make himself equal in every way with the highest."
"You mean, he can 'hustle,' as the saying is with us, and get rich, so as to stand on an equality with millionaires?"
"No, it wasn't money I was thinking about. I've met a good many millionaires since I've been here, but I've seen none whom you need look upon as your superior. What I mean is that you've only to be ambitious enough, and not feel that you're handicapped by your start, to attain to what you want in life--yes, whatever it may be."
"You mean all this, Lady Betty?" he asked quickly. "You have as much faith as that in me?"
"Yes," I answered; and the stars and the sea seemed to sing with my thoughts. I felt uplifted, somehow. It was a wonderful sensation, which it would be impossible to describe. But I had an exciting impression that Jim Brett shared it. The music of the Hungarian band flowed out from the house, and beat in my blood. His voice sounded as if it beat in his, too.
"You can't dream what my ambitions are, or maybe you wouldn't say that."
"I'm sure they would only be noble ones."
"It's true; they are noble. Yet you might not approve. But they're part of my life. I couldn't give them up now, and live."