The Contrast; And ... Other Stories (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 edition. Excerpt: ... "I think I understand," said Stella, greatly interested. "Then you must use your critical faculties and make selections of what is best, and you must encourage commonsense and distrust altruism. Sanity is the thing to aim at." "Yes." "The view of the world has become so distorted upon almost every point which started in good, that nothing but a cultivation of our individual critical faculties can enable us to see the truth; and ninetenths of civilised humanity have no real opinion of their own at all, they simply echo those of others." "I feel that is true," said Stella, thinking of her own case. "It is not because a thing is bad or good that it succeeds, merely how much strength we put into the desire for it," he went on. "But surely we must believe that good will win over evil," and the brown eyes looked almost troubled, and his softened as he looked at her. "The very fact of believing, that would make it come to pass by all these psychic laws. Whatever we really believe we draw to us," he said, almost tenderly. "Then, if I were to believe that all the difficulties and uncertainties would be made straight and just go on calmly, I should be happy, should I?" she asked, and there was an unconscious pathos in her voice which touched him deeply. "Certainly," he answered. "You have not had a fair chance; probably you have never been allowed to do a single thing of your own accord, have you?" "N--no," said Stella. "In the beginning, were you engaged to this good clergyman of your own wish?" And his eyes searched her face. She stiffened immediately, the training of years took offence, and she answered rather stiffly: "I do not think you have the right to ask me such a question, Count Roumovski." He was entirely unabashed. He stroked his...