She
saw no difference of level between Mary and the lawyer who came
about her marriage settlements: they were together beyond her
social horizon. In like manner, moral differences--and that in
her own class--were almost equally beyond recognition. If by
neglect of its wings, an eagle should sink to a dodo, it would
then recognize only the laws of dodo life. For the dodos of
humanity, did not one believe in a consuming fire and an outer
darkness, what would be left us but an ever-renewed _alas_!
It is truth and not imperturbability that a man's nature requires
of him; it is help, not the leaving of cards at doors, that will
be recognized as the test; it is love, and no amount of flattery
that will prosper; differences wide as that between a gentleman
and a cad will contract to a hair's breadth in that day; the
customs of the trade and the picking of pockets will go together,
with the greater excuse for the greater need and the less
knowledge; liars the most gentleman-like and the most rowdy will
go as liars; the first shall be last, and the last first.
Hesper's day drew on. She had many things to think about--things
very different from any that concerned Mary Marston. She was
married; found life in London somewhat absorbing; and forgot
Mary.
CHAPTER XXI.
MR. REDMAIN.
A life of comparatively innocent gayety could not be attractive
to Mr.
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