“Yes, and you, too—and myself! None of us would want him to do that, Maida!”
“Doesn’t necessity ever justify a fraud, Jeff?” The question was put so wistfully that the young man smiled.
“Nixy! and you know that even better than I do, dear. Why, Maida, what I love you most for—yes, even more than your dear, sweet, beauty of face, is the marvellous beauty of your nature, your character. Your flawless soul attracted me first of all—even as I saw it shining through your clear, honest eyes.”
“Oh, Jeffrey,” and Maida’s clear eyes filled with tears, “I’m not honest, I’m not true blue!”
“Then nobody on this green earth is! Don’t say such things, dear. I know what you mean, that you think you want your father to sacrifice his principles, in part, at least, to gain his full pardon thereby. See how I read your thoughts! But, you don’t really think that; you only think you think it. If the thing came to a focus, you’d be the first one to forbid the slightest deviation from the line of strictest truth and honor!”
“Oh, Jeff, do you think I would?”
“Of course I think so—I know it! You are a strange make-up, Maida. On an impulse, I can imagine you doing something wrong—even something pretty awful—but with even a little time for thought you couldn’t do a wrong.”
“What!” Maida was truly surprised; “I could jump into any sort of wickedness?”
“I didn’t quite put it that way,” Jeff laughed, “but—well, you know it’s my theory, that given opportunity, anybody can yield to temptation.”
“Nonsense! It’s a poor sort of honor that gives out at a critical moment!”