“But how, young ladies, would you make all your grand ideas practicable?” asked Lawrence.
“By proclaiming liberty,” answered Hilda. “Liberty will insure justice, and justice liberty. The two combined will make truth possible. To be truthful is to be natural, and nature is pure, nature is chaste. Only think what it all would mean to be free! We hear the cant of freedom, of liberty, of a ‘free country,’ all around us, when in reality it is all a miserable sham! Every word must be guarded, every action fettered. We must eat, drink, sleep, walk and talk all according to a prescribed fashion; must bow to fashion, to custom. We may not even welcome a child to our arms when we desire it, unless we have first allowed shackles to be placed upon our freedom; unless we have first bartered our womanhood for motherhood—often turning what should be a priceless boon to a most bitter curse.”
Hilda’s eyes were sparkling with brilliant flashes, but the eyes of Cora, who with Alice had drawn near, were downcast, and on the dark lashes clung two pearly drops. Music and song had ceased; the two performers, Alice and Cora, had for some time been listening to the soulful words that were being spoken. The sweet lips of the agitated girl were quivering as with pain, her hands tightly clasped as she repeated, “turning the precious boon so often into a bitter curse.” Turning to Hilda and kneeling at her feet Cora laid her face upon her knee.
“Is the curse never to be lifted?”
“Yes! When woman is ready to be blessed; when she has learned to keep herself pure; when the sacred temple of her body no longer is invaded by the curse of lust; when man no longer dares to intrude, to force his unwelcome attentions upon her, but patiently bides his time at a respectful distance.”
“You speak of the ‘millennium,’ of the perfection of the race. Must our lives be one long sacrifice to secure that end?” Hilda shook her head as with both hands she lifted the tear-wet face.
“I hope not! Whilst we all have a work to perform in the meantime, I believe we may yet be able, in our own lives, to so far lift ourselves out of and above all the pains that make life such a weary round of toil, as to be able to enjoy just a little in advance, of what the coming future will bring the now enslaved race. When we are brave enough, when we are strong enough to live as our inmost convictions tell us is right and true and pure, we may then hope for a little happiness, or perhaps a great happiness, just as we make ourselves ready to receive and appreciate it. And I feel so sure, so sure that here, just right here around us, a band is forming, true and staunch, that by its unity will enable us yet to realize what now seem but dreams!”
“You are speaking of that ideal home of yours?”
“Yes! If only—if only—I could once see the way clear as to where the means are to come from. Money! ‘Filthy lucre,’ as it is called, I fear is the rock that will upset our plans.” But now Cora’s eyes were shining.
“Money, money,” she murmured. “I think I know who would furnish it—only, will he not spurn me now after I have disappointed him so, and brought the bitter pain to his heart? O, will he believe that it was all for love of him and not for myself that I seemingly flung aside the priceless treasure of his love?”