And furthermore it would seem that the prophet Martineau had declared that in this New Age that was presently to dawn for mankind, jealousy was to be disciplined even as we had disciplined lust and anger; instead of ruling our law it was to be ruled by law and custom.  No longer were the jealousy of strange peoples, the jealousy of ownership and the jealousy of sex to determine the framework of human life.  There was to be one peace and law throughout the world, one economic scheme and a universal freedom for men and women to possess and give themselves.

“And how many generations yet must there be before we reach that Utopia?” Miss Grammont asked.

“I wouldn’t put it at a very great distance.”

“But think of all the confusions of the world!”

“Confusions merely.  The world is just a muddle of states and religions and theories and stupidities.  There are great lumps of disorderly strength in it, but as a whole it is a weak world.  It goes on by habit.  There’s no great idea in possession and the only possible great idea is this one.  The New Age may be nearer than we dare to suppose.”

“If I could believe that!”

“There are many more people think as we do than you suppose.  Are you and I such very strange and wonderful and exceptional people?”

“No.  I don’t think so.”

“And yet the New World is already completely established in our hearts.  What has been done in our minds can be done in most minds.  In a little while the muddled angry mind of Man upon his Planet will grow clear and it will be this idea that will have made it clear.  And then life will be very different for everyone.  That tyranny of disorder which oppresses every life on earth now will be lifted.  There will be less and less insecurity, less and less irrational injustice.  It will be a better instructed and a better behaved world.  We shall live at our ease, not perpetually anxious, not resentful and angry.  And that will alter all the rules of love.  Then we shall think more of the loveliness of other people because it will no longer be necessary to think so much of the dangers and weaknesses and pitifulliesses of other people.  We shall not have to think of those who depend upon us for happiness and selfrespect.  We shall not have to choose between a wasteful fight for a personal end or the surrender of our heart’s desire.”

“Heart’s desire,” she whispered.  “Am I indeed your heart’s desire?”

Sir Richmond sank his head and voice in response.

“You are the best of all things.  And I have to let you go.”