man turns naturally toward the worship of the maternal idea? That is the
deepest of all our instincts--love of woman, who is at once daughter and
wife and mother. It is that that makes the world go round."

Brave thoughts shaped themselves in Theron's mind, and shone forth in a
confident yet wistful smile on his face.

"It is a pity you cannot change estates with me for one minute," he
said, in steady, low tone. "Then you would realize the tremendous truth
of what you have been saying. It is only your intellect that has reached
out and grasped the idea. If you were in my place, you would discover
that your heart was bursting with it as well."

Celia turned and looked at him.

"I myself," he went on, "would not have known, half an hour ago, what
you meant by the worship of the maternal idea. I am much older than
you. I am a strong, mature man. But when I lay down there, and shut my
eyes--because the charm and marvel of this whole experience had for
the moment overcome me--the strangest sensation seized upon me. It was
absolutely as if I were a boy again, a good, pure-minded, fond little
child, and you were the mother that I idolized."

Celia had not taken her eyes from his face. "I find myself liking you
better at this moment," she said, with gravity, "than I have ever liked
you before."

Then, as by a sudden impulse, she sprang to her feet. "Come!" she cried,
her voice and manner all vivacity once more, "we have been here long
enough."