Deliberately to withhold education from a girl who was to inherit
any property worth speaking of would be acting with such boldness of
originality that Sidney could not seriously have attributed it to
his friend. In fact, he did not know Michael until the revelation
was made; the depths of the man's character escaped him.
The struggle went all against idealism. It was a noble vision, that
of Michael's, but too certainly Jane Snowdon was not the person to
make it a reality; the fearful danger was, that all the
possibilities of her life might be sacrificed to a vain
conscientiousness. Her character was full of purity and sweetness
and self-forgetful warmth, but it had not the strength necessary for
the carrying out of a purpose beset with difficulties and perils.
Michael, it was true, appeared to be aware of this; it did not,
however, gravely disturb him, and for the simple reason that not to
Jane alone did he look for the completion of his design; destiny had
brought him aid such as he could never have anticipated; Jane's
helpmate was at hand, in whom his trust was unbounded.
What was in his way, that Sidney should not accept the
responsibility? Conscience from the first whispered against his
doing so, and the whisper was grown to so loud a voice that not an
adverse argument could get effective hearing.
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