Compliments she had
received in endless variety all her life, but never had she seen
a man look at her with that expression.
"Pardon me, Miss Burton," he said, "if I protest against your
using the pronoun you did. No one will ever be able to associate
the word 'defeat' with you. I do not understand your philosophy;
but I know it is far better than mine. While I admit the truth of
your words that I do professionally shut my eyes as far as possible
to all the ugly facts of life, still I have been compelled to note
that the world is full of evils for which I can see no remedy, and
as a matter of common experience they apparently never are remedied.
Good steering and careful seamanship are immensely important; but
of what use are they if one is caught in a tornado or maelstrom, or
wedged in among rocks, so that going to pieces is only a question
of time? Good seamanship ought to keep one from such a fate, it
may be said. So it does in the majority of instances; but often
the wisest are caught. If you will realize it, Miss Burton, all
in this house, men, women, and children, are about as able to take
a ship across the Atlantic, as to make the life voyage wisely and
safely.
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