128 HOME BEAUTY 



and inborn nature is being put to the test in a 

 fierce ordeal — and the fiery ordeal of love is more 

 searching even than the ordeal of war. Every 

 smallest blot and blemish, every slightest impurity 

 is shown up in startling clearness. Every flaw at 

 once betrays itself. What will not bear a strain 

 immediately breaks down. There is not an imper- 

 fection which is not glaringly displayed. The 

 other may not see it, but he himself will — and 

 upon him is the responsibility. 



No wonder that both the one and the other 

 hesitate to commit themselves finally and irre- 

 vocabty ! Can he with all his blots and blemishes, 

 his failings and weaknesses, offer to give himself 

 to the other? Is he worthy to receive all that he 

 would expect to receive in return? Is he justified 

 in asking that the whole being and the most sacred 

 thing in life should be given over utterly to him? 

 It seems astounding that any man should ever have 

 the impudence to answer such questions in the 

 affirmative. Doubtless he would not have had 

 such effrontery but for two considerations. 



In the first place he knows that, imperfect as 

 he may be — downright sinful as he may often have 

 been — he is not bad at bottom. At heart, he knows 

 for certain he has capacities for improvement which 

 would come at once into being if only they had 

 the opportunity for development. And he knows 

 that the other could make those opportunities — 

 could provide the stimulus which would awaken in 

 him and bring to fruit many a hidden capability 

 of good. Every faculty in him he now feels being 

 quickened to an activity never known before. 



