If on the one hand I have not accomplished what I set out to accomplish--which of us does!--on the other I can fairly say this: I have not lowered my ideal." He looked resolutely at a sea-gull, as though his ideal flew on the wings of the bird.
"But," said Rachel, "what _is_ your ideal ?" "There you ask too much, Miss Vinrace," said Richard playfully.
She could only say that she wanted to know, and Richard was sufficiently amused to answer.
"Well, how shall I reply?
In one word--Unity.

Unity of aim, of dominion, of progress.

The dispersion of the best ideas over the greatest area." "The English ?" "I grant that the English seem, on the whole, whiter than most men, their records cleaner.

But, good Lord, don't run away with the idea that I don't see the drawbacks--horrors--unmentionable things done in our very midst! I'm under no illusions.

Few people, I suppose, have fewer illusions than I have.