" And the cry from these
Texan colonists touched every State in the Union. There were cords
of household love binding them to a thousand homes in older colonies;
and there was, also, in the cry that passionate protestation against
injustice and slavery which noble hearts can never hear unmoved, and
which makes all men brothers.
This was how matters stood when John Millard heard and answered the
call of Texas. And that night Phyllis learned one of love's hardest
lessons; she saw, with a pang of fear and amazement, that in a man's
heart love is not the passion which swallows up all the rest. Humanity,
liberty, that strange sympathy which one brave man has for another,
ruled John absolutely. She mingled with all these feelings, and
doubtless he loved her the better for them; but she felt it, at first,
a trifle hard to share her empire. Of course, when she thought of the
position, she acknowledged the beauty and fitness of it; but, in spite
of "beauty and fitness," women suffer a little. Their victory is, that
they hide the suffering under smiles and brave words, that they
resolutely put away all small and selfish feelings, and believe that
they would not be loved so well, if honor and virtue and valor were
not loved more.
Still it was a very happy evening. Richard and John were at their best;
the Bishop full of a sublime enthusiasm; and they lifted Phyllis with
them.
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