“Am I so old?” she laughed.
“The sentiment, not the woman. You are the most beautiful woman I ever saw.”
“I like all my boys to feel that way about me.”
“You don’t class me quite with the rest, do you?” She blushed the slightest bit. “No, I’ve always taken a peculiar interest in you. I have quarrelled with everybody who has hated and spoken evil of you. I have always believed you were capable of a high and noble life of great achievement.”
“And your faith in me has been my highest incentive to give the lie to my enemies and succeed. And I will. I will be the master of this state within two years. And I want you to remember that I lay it all at your feet. The world need not know it,—you know it.” He spoke with intense earnestness.
“But I don’t want you to make such a success at the price of Negro equality. I feel a sense of unspeakable degradation for you when I hear your name hissed. At least I was your teacher once. Come Allan, give up Negro politics and devote yourself to an honourable career in law!”
He shook his head with calm persistence.
“No, this is my calling.”
“Then take a nobler one.”
“To succeed grandly is the only title to nobility here.”