“And might have remained in that ignorance. The great majority of men exist but do not live—like Italy in the last century. The power of the passions, the force of the will, the creative energy of the imagination—these make life, and reveal to us a world of which the million are entirely ignorant You have been fortunate in your youth to have become acquainted with a great woman. It develops all a man’s powers, and gives him a thousand talents.”
“I often think,” said Lothair, “that I have neither powers nor talents, but am drifting without an orbit.”
“Into infinite space,” said the princess. “Well, one might do worse than that. But it is not so. In the long-run your nature will prevail, and you will fulfil your organic purpose; but you will accomplish your ends with a completeness which can only be secured by the culture and development you are now experiencing.”
“And what is my nature?” said Lothair. “I wish you would tell me.”
“Has not the divine Theodora told you?”
“She has told me many things, but not that.”
“How, then, could I know,” said the princess, “if she has not discovered it?”
“But perhaps she has discovered it,” said Lothair.
“Oh! then she would tell you,” said the princess, “for she is the soul of truth.”
“But she is also the soul of kindness, and she might wish to spare my feelings.”