There was too much at stake, and though her philosophy was fearless, her conduct had never been anything but conventional.

While in theory she despised discretion, she realized that the virtue she despised, not the theory she admired, had dominated her life.

The great trouble with acts of reckless nobility was that the recklessness was only for a moment, but the nobility was obliged to last a lifetime.

It was not difficult, she knew, for persons like Stephen or herself to be heroic in appropriate circumstances; the difficulty began when one was compelled to sustain the heroic role long after the appropriate circumstances had passed away.

Yet, in spite of the cynical lucidity of her judgment, the romantic in her heart longed to have Stephen, by one generous act of devotion, prove her theory fallacious.