"
"You haven't yourself that enthusiastic hope?"
"I try to hope," said Piers, in a low, unsteady voice, his eyes
falling timidly before her glance. "But what you said is so true--
one can't create the spirit of religion. If one hasn't it----" He
broke off, and added with a smile, "I think I have a certain amount
of enthusiasm. But when one has seen a good deal of the world, it's
so very easy to feel discouraged. Think how much sheer barbarism
there is around us, from the brutal savage of the gutter to the
cunning savage of the Stock Exchange!"
Irene had a gleam in her eyes; she nodded appreciation.
"If," he went on vigorously, "if one could make the multitude really
understand--understand to the point of action--how enormously
its interest is peace!"
"More hope that way, I'm afraid," said Irene, "than through
idealisms."
"Yes, yes. If it comes at all, it'll be by the way of self-interest.
And really it looks as if the military tyrants might overreach
themselves here and there. Italy, for instance. Think of Italy,
crushed and cursed by a blood-tax that the people themselves see to
be futile. One enters into the spirit of the men who freed Italy
from foreigners--it was glorious; but how much more glorious to
excite a rebellion there against her own rulers! Shouldn't you enjoy
doing that?"
At times, there is no subtler compliment to a woman than to address
her as if she were a man.
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