“I thank you, Mr. Faxon,” she continued, “for having revealed to me what the highest type of love is; it is, indeed, as you have said, ‘a principle,’ and not a mere sentiment, and if the world were governed by it, according to your interpretation, we should make rapid strides toward the millennium. But, really,” she interposed, with a silvery laugh, “I had no idea we should have such a grave discussion. We have, almost unconsciously, wandered quite deeply into a metaphysical argument, and I have had something of a revelation.”
“A revelation?” Clifford repeated inquiringly.
“Yes; I have learned that love, according to the common acceptation of the term, is a synonym for selfishness; that is, that human affection, when actuated simply by personal attachment, is a selfish love. But, according to your higher interpretation of the word, it is a divine principle. Is not this a revelation?”
“Yes, and you are very receptive to have grasped it so readily,” Clifford replied, while he regarded her expressive face earnestly.
“I am going away after lunch,” Gertrude continued, smiling up at him, “but I shall not forget our little chat of this morning; it has done me good, and, let me add, you have been very kind to us all since we have been here. I am glad to have known you, and I hope we shall meet again some time.”
She frankly extended her jeweled hand to him as she concluded, and her beautiful eyes held something like an expression of reverence in them as they swept the fine face before her. He took her hand in the same spirit of friendliness that it was offered.
“Thank you, Miss Athol,” he said, “it will certainly give me great pleasure if I am ever so fortunate as to have my path cross yours again in the future.”
He bowed courteously to her as he concluded, then turned and quietly left the veranda.
Gertrude Athol’s sweet face was very grave as she stood where he left her, and thought over their recent conversation.
“‘An upstart,’ the ‘window-washer and drudge of Beck Hall,’” she repeated, under her breath and with clouded eyes. “Why, there is the stamp of true royalty on every feature of his grand face! He is the truest gentleman, in every sense of the word, that I have ever met. I am sure he is a man with a wonderful career before him, and he is certainly one of whose acquaintance I shall ever be proud. I wonder——”