“Beauty has to endure,” she said swiftly. “It has to be daring. It has to outlive long years of life and many defeats.” A hard look came into her eyes as she challenged the daughter of wealth. “I had the courage to be defeated and I have the courage to take what I want,” she said. “Have you that courage? If you have take this man. You want him and so do I. Take his arm and walk away with him. Do it now, here before my eyes.”
Margaret shook her head. Her body trembled and her eyes looked wildly about. She turned to David Ormsby. “I did not know that life could be like this,” she said. “Why didn't you tell me? She is right. I am afraid.”
A light came into McGregor's eyes and he turned quickly about. “I see,” he said, looking sharply at Edith, “you have also your purpose.” Turning again he looked into the eyes of David.
“There is something to be decided here. It is perhaps the supreme test of a man's life. One struggles to keep a thought in mind, to be impersonal, to see that life has a purpose outside his own purpose. You have perhaps made that struggle. You see I'm making it now. I'm going to take Edith and go back to work.”
At the door McGregor stopped and put out his hand to David who took it and looked at the big lawyer respectfully.
“I'm glad to see you go,” said the ploughmaker briefly.
“I'm glad to be going,” said McGregor, understanding that there was nothing but relief and honest antagonism in the voice and in the mind of David Ormsby.