"It is not hers, however," he rejoined; "any further than that I am mainly curious to know what she will say about it."
"You ought to be equally anxious about my opinion, it seems to me," mamma said.
"Do I not know it already? Pour la patrie, - does anything go before that in your mind? Honestly, Mrs. Randolph, - is it not in your opinion the worthiest thing anybody can do, to fight, or to die - still better, - for the independence of the South?"
"You do not think so," said mamma, "or you would be there."
"I am selfish, and have selfish hopes and fears. But you think so?"
"Let us hear what you consider the worthiest object of life," said mamma.
"It is not my turn. Miss Randolph, your mother has spoken - the next honour belongs to you."
"The worthiest object of life?" I said. "Is that the question?"
"It will not be a question, when you have answered it," De Saussure said gallantly.
"You will not like my answer," I said. "I should think it would be, To please God."
"But that is not an answer, pardon me. Of course, the Supreme Being is pleased to see people following the worthiest object; and the question is, What is the _worthiest?_"
I did not like to hear Mr. De Saussure's tongue touch themes where it was not at home. The conversation was too serious for light handling; but I could not get out of it.
"You will find that my answer includes all," I said. "It is impossible to lay down a rule, as to particulars, that will fit all cases. It is the best thing one man can do, to lay down his life for his country; the best thing another man can do is to stay at home and devote himself to the care of an infirm mother or father; but in either case, for God."
"I do not understand -" said Mr. Marshall.
"Suppose the one goes to the battlefield for his own glory, and the other stays at home for his own ease?"
"Don't you think glory is a thing to live for?" said Ransom, with an indignant expression that reminded me painfully of our childish days.
"Yes," I said slowly, - "I do; but not the praise of men, which is so often mistaken. The glory that comes from God, - _that_ is worth living for."
"What an incomprehensible girl you are!" Ransom answered impatiently.
"But, Miss Randolph," said Mr. Marshall, "the care of infirm relatives, a father or a mother, can anything make that unworthy?"