“What is it?” asked the wondering woman, marveling at this strange girl who went about embracing people so promiscuously.
“Love.”
The woman’s lip trembled slightly when she heard this, but she did not reply.
“And I’m going to love you,” the girl continued. “Oh, so much! You’re tired of society gabble and gossip; you’re tired of spending on yourself the money you never earned; you’re not a bit of use to anybody, are you? But you want to be. You’re a sort of tragedy, aren’t you? Oh, I know. There are just lots of them in high society, just as weary as you. They haven’t anything but money. And they lack the very greatest thing in all of life, the very thing that no amount of money will buy, just love! But, do you know? they don’t realize that, in order to get, they must give. In order to be loved, they must themselves love. Now you start right in and love the whole world, love everybody, big and little. And, as you love people, try to see only their perfection. Never look at a bad trait, nor a blemish of any sort. Try it. In a week’s time you will be a new woman.”
“Do you do that?” the woman asked in a low tone.
“I have always done it,” replied Carmen. “I don’t know anything but love. I never knew what it was to hate or revile. I never could see what there was that deserved hatred or loathing. I don’t see anything but good––everywhere.”
The woman slipped an arm about the girl. “I––I don’t mind your talking that way to me,” she whispered. “But I just couldn’t bear to listen to any more religion.”
“Why!” exclaimed Carmen. “That’s all there is to religion! Love is the tie that binds all together and all to God. Why, Miss Wall––”
“Call me Elizabeth, please,” interrupted the woman.
“Well then, Elizabeth,” she said softly, “all creeds have got to merge into just one, some day, and, instead of saying ‘I believe,’ everybody will say ‘I understand and I love.’ Why, the very person who loved more than anybody else ever did was the one who saw God most clearly! He knew that if we 166 would see God––good everywhere––we would just simply have to love, for God is love! Don’t you see? It is so simple!”