You know nothing about those times, George."
"I wish I had," said George, with an unusual passion, which surprised
his father and caused Pauline to lift her eyes from the table and
look at him. "I only wish I had. I can't speak as father can, and I
often say to myself I should like to take myself off to some foreign
country where men get shot for what they call conspiracy. If I knew
such a country I half believe I would go to-morrow."
"Which means," said Pauline, "that there would be an end of you and
your services. If you care anything for a cause, you can do
something better than get shot for it; and if you want martyrdom,
there is a nobler martyrdom than death. The Christians who were
trundled in barrels with spikes in them deserve higher honour than
those who died in a moment, before they could recant. The highest
form of martyrdom, though, is not even living for the sake of a
cause, but living without one, merely because it is your duty to
live. If you are called upon to testify to a great truth, it is easy
to sing in flames. Yes, yes, Mr. George, the saints whom I would
canonise are not martyrs for a cause, but those who have none.
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