"Love."
"Loving a man?"
"Yes."
"You know what my creed is—that love must be utterly unselfish to be pure—to be love at all."
"One must not think of one's self," murmured Rita, absently.
"I don't mean that. I mean that one must not hesitate to sacrifice one's self when the happiness or welfare of the other is in the balance."
"Yes. Of course!… Suppose you love a man."
"Yes," said Valerie, smiling, "I can imagine that."
"Listen, dear. Suppose you love a man. And you think that perhaps he is beginning—just beginning to care a little for you. And suppose—suppose that you are—have been—long ago—once, very long ago—"
"What?"