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Gissing, George, 1857-1903

"The Unclassed"

Without speaking, she held her hand to him.
"You are not afraid," Waymark said, "to link your fate with mine? My
life is made up of uncertainties. I have no position; it may be a
long time before I can see even the promise of success in my work. I
have chosen that work, however, and by it I stand or fall. Have you
sufficient faith in me to wait with confidence?"
"I have absolute faith in you. I ask no greater happiness than to
have a share in your aims. It will give me the strength I need, and
make my life full of hope."
It had come then, and just as he had foreseen it would. It was no
result of deliberate decision, he had given up the effort to
discover his true path, knowing sufficiently that neither reason nor
true preponderance of inclination was likely to turn the balance.
The gathering emotion of the hour had united with opportunity to
decide his future. The decision was a relief; as he walked
homewards, he was lighthearted.
On the way, he thought over everything once more, reviewing former
doubts from his present position. On the whole, he felt that fate
had worked for his happiness.
And yet there was discontent. He had never known, felt that perhaps
he might never know, that sustained energy of imaginative and
sensual longing which ideal passion demands.


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