"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," was the polite response.
Mrs. Porter leaned toward her companion with her broad, charming smile.
"Bertram King, that's a lie," she remarked slowly.
He winked and lifted his eyebrows.
"There's a lot for you to learn about love," she went on. "To love unselfishly is the best thing that can happen to anybody."
"There's no such thing as unselfish love," declared King.
"Oh, yes there is, and you proved that you experienced it. You put Linda's happiness above your own. You willingly endured injustice to mitigate her pain. Don't you know that your nature was enriched by that? Don't you know that your action, now that she understands it, reflects upon her, and uplifts her nature and her ideals? We can't crystallize, because we're the children of God; and God is Infinite Love, and Love is a divine principle which is ever active. You assume too much when you hold Linda to the narrow development of her school-girl days. You can remain behind your human defenses and refuse to forgive her if you choose—"
"I told you, and honestly, that I have nothing to forgive."
Mrs. Porter shook her head. "God doesn't treat us so when we turn to Him repentantly. He doesn't say there is nothing to forgive and leave us with the sharp thorn unremoved. That sweet sense that God is Love is borne in upon us after a genuine repentance, and gives the consciousness that we shall be upheld if we long to be, and guarded from a repetition of the offense."
"My dear Maud, you're way beyond my depth."