Ours
will be the joy of success or the shame of failure, and we should fit
ourselves for the task both morally and physically by the practice of
every virtue, and by every art known to the science and skill of man."
"Englishwomen could not sit still and know that their lovely homes will
be wrecked eventually, and left desolate: that this country of theirs
will become a wilderness of ruin, such as Egypt is, but rank and
overgrown, its beauty of sweet grass and stately trees, and all its
rich luxuriance of flowers and fruits and foliage plants, only
accentuating the ruin--bearing witness to the neglect. No, our
greatness shall not depart. The decay may have begun, but it shall be
arrested. I am not afraid."
"But if it is the fate of nations, Ideala----"
"I propose to conquer fate," said Ideala. "Fate itself is no match for
one woman with a will, let alone for thousands! When horrid war is
threatened, men flock to fight for their country; and they volunteer
for every other arduous duty to be done. Do you think women are less
brave? No. When they realise the truth they will fight for it.
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