Затерянный мир
There Are Heroisms All Round Us
Youshoulddoitbecauseyoucan’thelpyourself,becauseit’snaturaltoyou,becausethemaninyouiscryingoutforheroicexpression.Now,whenyoudescribedtheWigancoalexplosionlastmonth,couldyounothavegonedownandhelpedthosepeople,inspiteofthechoke-damp?"
"Idid."
"Youneversaidso."
"Therewasnothingworthbuckingabout."
"Ididn’tknow."Shelookedatmewithrathermoreinterest."Thatwasbraveofyou."
"Ihadto.Ifyouwanttowritegoodcopy,youmustbewherethethingsare."
"Whataprosaicmotive!Itseemstotakealltheromanceoutofit.But,still,whateveryourmotive,Iamgladthatyouwentdownthatmine."Shegavemeherhand;butwithsuchsweetnessanddignitythatIcouldonlystoopandkissit."IdaresayIammerelyafoolishwomanwithayounggirl’sfancies.Andyetitissorealwithme,soentirelypartofmyveryself,thatIcannothelpactinguponit.IfImarry,Idowanttomarryafamousman!"
"Whyshouldyounot?"Icried."Itiswomenlikeyouwhobracemenup.Givemeachance,andseeifIwilltakeit!Besides,asyousay,menoughttoMAKEtheirownchances,andnotwaituntiltheyaregiven.LookatClive—justaclerk,andheconqueredIndia!ByGeorge!I’lldosomethingintheworldyet!"
ShelaughedatmysuddenIrisheffervescence."Whynot?"shesaid."Youhaveeverythingamancouldhave,—youth,health,strength,education,energy.Iwassorryyouspoke.AndnowIamglad—soglad—ifitwakensthesethoughtsinyou!"
