He was prepared at a future time to make war upon society for the sake of his class, if the occasion demanded it. He fully intended presently to stand forth with the protagonists of labour and fight for socialism. He anticipated that battle and was educating and priming himself for it. As yet the great revolt belonged to the future and there his ultimate ambition lay; but now an immediate personal appeal confronted him—a matter in which he himself and his own happiness were deeply involved. And more than himself, for he felt that Medora’s future now hung in the balance. Her destiny waited on him.
But he did not tell Medora the result of his reflections. For the moment he bade her be of good cheer and trust him.
While she sobbed, he considered and then, feeling it was time to speak, comforted her.
“I’m glad you’ve told me all this,” he said. “It shows you know where you can put your faith. And since you come to me with it, Medora, I’ll make it my business. I’m only a human man and I loved you with all my heart, and I do love you with all my heart still, and now the case is altered. I should never have thought of you again—not in that way—if your married life had turned out all right; but as it’s turned out all wrong, then it’s up to me to come into your life again. May I do so?”
“You’re the only thing in my life,” she said, drying her eyes. “Everything else makes me want to end it—yes, I’ve thought often of that, Jordan. But I’ll thankfully put myself in your hands and be patient a bit longer if you tell me to.”
“It ain’t a case for waiting,” he said. “It’s a case for doing. I don’t know what fear is myself, and more did you till he made you. It looks very much to me as if you’d have to come to me, Medora.”
“Oh, my God—could you?”
“Yes, I could, and I will.”
“Think of yourself—it’s like your bravery to put me first and I’d be your slave and live for you and thank Heaven for its blessings; but I don’t want to ruin your life, you good, brave man.”
“Nobody can ruin your life but yourself,” he answered, “and if I save your life, it won’t be to ruin my own. Say you’d like it to be so and leave the rest to me. I mean it, Medora.”