If I devote my life to him, as I propose, who
would be hurt by it? Should I be less pure-minded, and would he be
less upright in all his dealings? When things can be legally right
though morally wrong, can they not also be morally right though
legally wrong?"
"I have already tried to show you, Ideala," I answered, preparing to go
over the old ground again, patiently, "that we none of us stand alone,
that we are all part of this great system, and that, in cases like
yours, individuals must suffer, must even be sacrificed, for the good
of the rest. When the sacrifice is voluntary, we call it noble."
"If I go to him I shall have sacrificed a good deal."
"You will have sacrificed others, not yourself. He is all the world to
you, Ideala; the loss would be nothing to the gain"--she hid her face
in her hands--"and what is required of you is self-sacrifice. And
surely it would be happier in the end for you to give him up now, than
to live to feel yourself a millstone round his neck."
"I do not understand you," she said, looking up quickly.
"The world, you see, will know nothing of the fine sentiments which
made you determine to take this step," I said.
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