"We might well ask 'what is happiness?'" I rejoined in answer to his
remark, anxious to steer the conversation clear of personalities. "How
vain and trivial all our struggles seem whenever we find ourselves face to
face with the serene indifference of Nature. What are we, after all, but
fretful midges whizzing out our brief hour?"
"Ah, one is often tempted to think so," answered Armitage--and I confess
that I gave vent to a sigh of relief as I realised that he was now started
on a discussion--"but as long as injustice prevails we must continue the
struggle. I often long for rest, silence, oblivion; but the mood passes
and I awake more keenly alive than ever to the greatness of our Cause, and
our duty toward the propaganda. Nothing must be allowed to interfere with
our devotion to it, and, what is more, Isabel, we must strive to live in
such a way as to free ourselves from all considerations that might hamper
our action on its behalf. We must simplify our lives; we must not neglect
to set an example even in small matters. The material claims of life
absorb far too much of our time. We are constantly selling our birthright
for a mess of pottage. We shall never be truly devoted propagandists till
we have freed ourselves from all care for the morrow."
"You are right," said I, "but such ideas may be carried to an excess. We
must live our lives; and as that is so we must attend more or less to our
personal wants.
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