The Keepers of the People

1264There she found Latchimi playing with her child, careless and easy-hearted. She knew that war was toward: her maids had told her: but war was men’s business; and Prince Ralph had been born under too lucky a star for her to fear for him. It was a relief and a pleasure to Althea to laugh with her.

1265Prince Ralph came to them at dinner with the news that the Russians were already forcing the pass, and would be pouring down into Varandaleel by noon on the morrow.

1266“Surely the pass was our strongest defence,” said the old Princess in dismay.

1267“It was not worth while to hold it against eight thousand men, mother,” said Prince Ralph. “Besides the blood of the people is beginning to run thin in their veins. They are growing womanish; and want hardening.”

1268“I think of the poor mothers,” said the old Princess.

1269“Yes,” said Ruth; “the poor women.”

1270“Ah, you don’t know the Varandal women, wretched, down-trodden slaves. You don’t suppose they are capable of lofty emotions,” said the Princess Agnes.

1271“No: of course, I don’t know them,” said Ruth. “But surely the mothers love their sons; and surely the girls love their lovers.”

1272“Oh, yes; as animals love their offspring, and their mates. What is such love worth? Mere emotion springing from no intellectual basis, founded rather upon sensuality than on a sympathetic community of lofty ideals,” said the Princess Agnes in her loftiest mood.

1273“I like that kind,” Lord Lisdor broke in cheerfully. “I can do with a good deal of it, don’t you know? That other kind, springing from a what do you call it, an intellectual basis, isn’t satisfying; about a quarter of it goes to the person loved, and the other three-quarters is given by the person, the intellectual person, loving, to himself, or herself, as the case may be.”

1274“I don’t think you have had the education and training to appreciate such a feeling,” said the Princess Agnes with a very cold scorn.

1275“I daresay not; and yet I don’t know; Amelia, Lady Hammersmith, you know, was always drumming some such notion into me when I was a boy. But I never found that it washed,” said Lord Lisdor.

1276“Oh! how is poor dear mamma? I quite forgot to ask,” said Althea.

1277“She’s all right,” said Lord Lisdor. “But, I must say, you’re a nice, affectionate daughter!”