Then Edgar took her in his arms and kissed her, and Alice's cup of bliss was full.
"You know my views about money," Edgar said, "and that I hold it a sin for any man to live a life of ease and pleasure while his fellow-men are starving. Well, I simply cannot go on any longer living my present life, when I know of the sea of sin and suffering and sorrow all around me. I feel I must go down into the midst of it, and do something for those weaker brethren for whom Christ died."
Alice's beautiful face was aglow with excitement: "I will come down with you, and stand by your side. I think it is splendid of you to give up everything for the sake of the poor; and I am proud to be the woman you have chosen to help you to bear this burden and to take up this cross!"
"My darling! do you think you can be quite happy without horses and carriages and all the external trappings of wealth?"
"I should rather think I could! I don't care a bit about things like that. Mamma thinks they are important, but they have always bothered me ever since I was a little girl and used to think it a treat to walk out to tea instead of having the carriage."
"But you will be a rich woman on your own account, Alice, and you must do what you will with your own."
"I shall give it all to you to do whatever you like with, and it will help us to help others all the more."
"Then will you come and live with me down at the Stepney Settlement, in connection with Hampden House, and take your part in the work there?" asked Edgar. "It is a grand field for labour, and the labourers are as yet few."
"Of course I will. I will go anywhere with you and do anything for you as long as I live."
"My brave little girl!"