\"Man！man！\"shecontinued，\"thosewerethedays！andthosewerethemen！Ihaveheardsuchpreachingaswouldcauseyourhearttoquakewithinyou，andmakeyoutolistenwiththefearofdeathuponyoulestitshouldstop。\"
\"Itmusthavebeenterriblepreaching，indeed，\"saidBrownsoftly。
\"Terrible！ay，terrible’stheword。Lad，lad，\"saidtheoldlady，turninguponBrownherpiercingblue—greyeyes，\"intheoldMullinChurchIhaveseentheveryraftersthrobbing，andstrongmenandwomenswayinglikethetree—topsintheglenwhileBurnswasragingforthuponthemliketheTummelinspate，whilevisionsoftheeternalthings——thethroneofGodandtheJudgmentDay——filledoureyes。\"Shepausedafewmomentsandthensinkingbackintoherchairshewenton，\"Ay，terriblepreaching，yon，likethestorm—blastsweepingthehillsidesandrendingthefirsinthePass。Yes！yes！
Butgentleattimesandwinning，liketherainfallingsoftatnight，wooingatthebluebellsandthedaisiesintheglen，orlikeamothercrooninoverthebabeatherbreast，tillmenweptforloveandlongingafterHimself。Ay，lad，lad，yonwasthepreaching。\"
Therewasalongsilencewhiletheywaitedforhertocontinue。
\"Whatwasthatsermon，mother，atMullinthattimeuponthewords’Willyealsogoaway？’youremember？\"atlengthaskedShockcunningly。
Hismothersighed。\"Ay，andthatwasasairmontodrawtheheartouto’you。Thatwasthemeltingday，whilethebigmengrippedtheirstickshardandthewomenwipedattheireyesthatwouldneverbedonerunning，andthatman’svoicesoughingoverthemlikethewindinthepinesintheevening，Yes！yes！But，\"suddenlyrecallingherself，\"come，lads，youmustbeofftoyourbooks。\"
Theyoungmensatafewmomentssilentlygazingintothefire，andthenBrownroseandsaid，\"Good—night，mother。You’rethegreatestpreacherIknow，andIwouldnotmindawholehourfromyou。\"Hisvoicewasearnestandhiseyessoftandtenderashestoopedandkissedhercheek。
\"Good—night，laddie，\"answeredMrs。Macgregor，pattinghishandgently。\"Idoubt，afterall，thefaultnowadaysisnotwiththepreachingsomuchaswiththehearing。\"
\"Well，I’moff。Youwillseemeto—morrowwithmyflockofstrayingsheep。ButIwarnyouthatafteryouhearthatmanfromtheWestyouwillallbevolunteeringasmissionaries。\"
TheoldladytookupherknittingagainandafterthedoorhadcloseduponBrownsatbackinherchairwithawearysigh。
\"You’retiredto—night，mother，\"saidShockgently。
\"Tired？AndwhatforwouldIbetired？No，no，butthedayislong。\"
\"Yes，somedays，mother。Butthelongestpass。\"
Sheglancedquicklyatherson，butsaveforaquiveringofthelipsusuallysofirm，therewasnosignofthepainwhichbothknewlayattheheartofeach。Hermoodofimpatiencehadpassed。Shewasoncemoreherself，calmandstrong，lookingwithsteadfasteyesintothefuture，knowingwellthatwhateverthedaysmightbring，Hewhoforfiftyyearshadbeenherrefugeandherstrengthwouldnotfailher。
TheappealfortheWestwasthethemeofconversationattheFairbankshome，wheretheusualcompanyhadassembled。TheDonwasdescribingtheSuperintendent’saddressattheCollegeandthrillinghislistenerswithhisownenthusiasm，whenBrownentered。
\"Hello！Atitagain？\"criedBrown。\"Ifhedoesn’tavoidthatfierycrossfellow，TheDonwillbeofffortheWestfirstthingyouknow。\"
\"Tellus，\"criedBetty，\"washeasgreatasallthat？Mr。BalfourherewouldhaveusbelievethatthisWesternmanisreallysomethingwonderful。\"
\"Well，Idon’tknow，\"saidBrown。\"Youneverthinkofwhetherheiswonderfulornot，butonethingIknow，hemakesyouseethings——themountainsandthatfoot—hillcountry，theminingcampsandallthatsaloonandgambling—hellbusiness，tillyoucansmellthebrimstoneandyouwanttobeinit。\"
\"What？Intothebrimstone？\"laughedLloyd。
\"Iamratherincoherent，Iconfess。Butthatoldchapsuitsme。IfI
wereaTheologue，andunattached，I’dbethere。\"
\"There’snodoubtitisagreatcountry，withvastopportunities，\"
saidTheDon，glancingatBetty。
\"Yes，\"saidMrs。Fairbanks，frowningasshenotedtheglance，\"anddoubtlessanyyoungmanwhohasthenecessaryenterpriseandcouragewillmakehisfortunewiththegrowthofthatcountry。\"
\"Butwhyunattached？Whatdoyoumeanbythat？\"enquiredBetty。
\"Unattached？Why，youknow，justlikeme——amanwithnofamilytiestospeakof。Didyoutellthemthatyarn，Lloyd？Well，I’lltellyou。YouknowtheSuperintendentwastellingthefellowsofthedifficultyhehadinsecuringmen。Well，hemanagedtogetamanfromanEasternCollegewhomheappointedtotheCariboo——rightsortofchap，too，apparently——acceptedtheappointment——everythingwasarranged——happened，however，hewasengagedtoayoungladybroughtupinthelapofluxury，andthatsortofthing。Whensheheardofheryoungmanbeingappointedtothisoutlandishplace，shepromptlycollapsedintoafaint，sisterwentintohysterics，motherintoablindrage，result——youngmanresigned。’Soyousee，gentlemen，’
saidtheoldchapdryly，’whenyouhavetoconsiderthetastesandtemperament，notonlyoftheyoungman，butofhisyoungladyandofallhernearfamilyrelatives，thedifficultyofsecuringmenfortheWestissensiblyincreased。\"
\"Ithinkthatisjusthorridofhim，\"exclaimedBettyindignantly。
\"Theyoungladyoughttobeconsulted。Don’tyouthinkso？\"turningtoLloyd。
\"Whycertainly，andyet——\"
\"Mostassuredly，\"saidMrs。Fairbanks。\"Wouldyouaskayoungladytogooutandburyherselfaliveinsuchacountryasthat，oraskhertowaitanindefinitenumberofyearstilltheyoungmanshouldreturn？Whyitissimplymonstrous。\"AndMrs。FairbanksfixedherglassesfirmlyonhernoseandgazedatBrownasifshewouldannihilatehim。
\"WhycertainlyIwould，\"repliedBrown，quiteunabashed;\"andifshelovedme，\"placinghishandoverhisheart，\"shewouldbegladtodoeither。Iwouldsimplyremark，’Mylove，I’moffforGreenland。’
’Wait，mydear，’shewouldpromptlyreply，’tillIgetmyfurs。’\"
\"Allthesame，\"saidLloydseriously，\"itwouldbeaterriblelifeforanywoman，andamanshouldhesitatebeforeaskinghertoshareit。\"
\"Nosociety，nothingcongenialinenvironment！Quiteimpossible！\"
exclaimedMrs。Fairbankswithgreatemphasis。\"Andquiteabsurdtodreamofit。\"
\"Then，\"repliedBrownwarmlytoLloyd，\"theonlyavailablemenforyourChief，apparently，arehopelessoldbachelorsoryoungmen，howeverworthylikemyself，whoarestillunappropriated。\"
\"Exactly，\"saidMrs。Fairbankswithanairoffinality。
\"But，Mrs。Fairbanks，\"exclaimedTheDon，\"whatofoursoldiersandofficerswhogotoIndiaandotheroutlandishplaces？Theytaketheirwivesalongwiththem，Iunderstand？\"
\"That’squiteadifferentthing，Mr。Balfour，\"saidMrs。Fairbanks。
\"ThesemengoouttoservetheirQueenandcountry，anditisrecognisedastheproperthing，and——well，yousee，itisquitedifferent。\"
\"Imustsay，\"exclaimedHelen，fasteningtoforestallthehotanswersheknewtobeatTheDon’slips，\"IagreewithMr。Brown。Ifaman’sworkcallshimtoGreenland，hiswifeoughttogowithhimorsheoughttobewillingtowaithisreturn。\"
\"Helen，youspeaklikeasentimentalschool—girl，\"repliedMrs。
Fairbankswithatouchofhaughtyscorn。\"Ofcourseifamanismarriedanddutycallshimtoaforeignland，hemustgo。Butwhyshouldagirlthrowawayherprospectsandcondemnherselftoalifeofobscurityandisolationbyattachingherselftoamanwhochoosestotakeupsomefantasticmissioninsomeoutlandishplaceorother？\"
\"Why？Becauseshelovesamanwhosedutycallshimthere，\"exclaimedHelen，hergreyeyesglowing。
\"Bravo！\"repliedBrown。\"IfIseeaWesternmissionarywantingahelpmeet——that’stheproperword，Ibelieve——Ishallknowwheretosendhim。\"
\"Nonsense，\"criedMrs。Fairbanksquitecrossly，\"butsurelyweneednotdiscussthequestionanyfurther。\"
\"Well，ifImayofferanopinion，\"saidTheDoninadeliberate，strainedvoice，\"thatcountryistheplaceformenwithenterprisewhobelieveinthemselves，andIthinknomanisthrowinghisprospectsawaywhoidentifieshimselfwithit——norwomaneither，forthatmatter。Andwhatistrueofotherprofessionsoughttobetrueoftheministry。\"
\"Iagree，\"criedBrown，addingwickedly，\"justthespotforyou，Lloyd。\"
\"Why，Ishouldlikenothingbetter，\"saidLloyd，\"ifcircumstancesindicatedthatmyworklaythere。\"
\"Well，well，what’scometoyouall？\"criedMrs。Fairbanks，holdingupherjewelledhandsindespair。
\"TheOccidentalmicrobe，\"suggestedBrown。
\"Andthemonumentalnonsenseitis，\"saidMrs。Fairbanks，\"formenofhighcultureandspecialtrainingtolosethemselvesinsuchacountryasthat。\"
\"But，\"persistedBrown，\"theysaythatthat’stheveryplaceforsuchmen。Why，thatcountryisfullofhigh—classchaps——Universitygrads，Lords，Dukes，andsuch，aswellastheprofessionalgambler，andotherhighlytechnicalexperts。TheSuperintendentdeclaredto—
nighthewouldn’thaveanybuthigh—classmenhence，Lloyd！\"andBrownwavedhishandtowardthatgentleman。
\"Ihavenodoubt，\"saidMrs。Fairbankswithseveredeliberation，\"thatMr。Lloydhasthegoodsensetoperceivethathisspecialtrainingfitshimforsomethingquitedifferent，andIthinkhewillnotbemadenoughtothrowawayhisbrilliantprospectsinanysuchsillymanner。Butcome，letushavesomemusic。Mr。Lloyd，youandBettysingsomethingforus。\"
Astheymovedtothepiano，BrownlookedupatTheDon。Hishandsome，haughtyfacewassethardandinhiseyesburnedalightthatBrownhadoftenseenthereonthefootballfield。
\"He’sgoingtotackleandtacklehard，too，pooroldchap。Notmuchchance，though，againstthatcombinationofChurchandState。\"
\"Oh，thatwetwowereMaying，\"sangLloydinhisfinetenorvoice，withBettyrespondinginlikesentiment。
\"Well，Iratherhopenot，\"mutteredBrowntohimselfashecrossedtheroomtowhereHelenwasseated。Pausingamomentbesideherhesaidinalowtone，\"TheDonhashadanofferonthenewrailwayconstructionintheWest——twoyears’appointment。Goandtalktohimaboutit。Looksfierce，doesn’the？\"AndHelen，noddingintelligently，lingeredamomentandthenmovedtowhereTheDonsat，whileBrownwenttowardthepiano。\"MustgettheseyoungstersinoculatedwiththeOccidentalmicrobe，\"hemutteredashetookhisplacebesideMrs。Fairbanks，whowaslisteningwithpleasedapprovaltothe\"Maying\"duet，thepausesofwhichBrownindustriouslyemployedinsoothingherruffledfeelings。SowelldidhesucceedthatwhenheprofferedthehumblerequestthattheyoungladiesshouldbeallowedtoaccompanyhimtoShock’schurchinthemorning，Mrs。Fairbanksgaveareluctantassent。
\"Undoubtedly，Iamagreatstrategist，\"saidBrowntohimselfnextmorningashesatwatchingwithsurreptitiousglancesthefacesoftheyoungladiesbesidehim。Thepreacherwasathisbest。Thegreatlandwherehislifemissionlay，withitsprairies，foot—hillsmountains，andvalleys，andalltheirmarvellousresources，wasspreadoutbeforetheeyesofthecongregationwithallthepassionateprideofthepatriot。Thelifeofthelonelyrancherandofhismorelonelywife，thedesperatestruggleformanhoodbythemeanofthemineandtherailroadandthelumbercamp，themagnitudeoftheissuesatstake;thepathosofdefeat，thegloryoftriumph，wereallportrayedwithapowerthatcompelledthesympathyofhishearers，whiletheshrewdcommon—senseveinthatranthroughallconvincedtheirintellectsandwontheirconfidence。Perplexity，wonder，horror，compassion，filledtheirheartsandwerereflectedwithrapidsuccessionontheirfaces，ashetoldhisstoriesofthewreckofhumanlivesandconsequentagonyofhumanhearts。
\"ByJove！they’vegotit，\"exclaimedBrowntohimself。\"ThedearMrs。Fairbankshasnoanti—toxineforthismicrobe。\"HiseyesturnedtoShockandtherewereheldfast。\"He’sgotit，too，confoundhim，\"
hegrumbled。\"Surely，hewouldn’tbebeastenoughtoleavehisoldmotheralone。\"Themother’sfacewasastrangesight。Onittheanguishofherheartwasplainlytobeseen，butwiththeanguishtheraptgloryofthosewhotriumphbysacrifice。
AsthecongregationbrokeuptheyoungladieshurriedtogreetMrs。
Macgregor。FromthedayofthefootballmatchtheyhadcarefullyandpersistentlynursedtheacquaintancethenbeguntilltheyhadcometofeelathomeintheMacgregorcottage。Hence，whenBettyfellintosevereillnessandtheywereattheirwits’endforanurse，theygladlyacceptedMrs。Macgregor’sprofferedhelp，andduringthelonganxiousweeksthatfollowed，thewholefamilycametoregardwithrespect，confidence，andfinallywarmaffection，thedignifiedoldladywho，withsuchkindly，shrewd，andtendercare，nursedthesickgirlbacktostrength。Helenespecially，whohadsharedthelongwatchwithher，hadmadeforherselfalargeplaceinherheart。To—day，afteranexchangeofgreetings，HelendrewMrs。
Macgregorbackandallowedtheotherstogoon。Forsometimetheywalkedinsilence，Helenholdingtheoldladytightbythearm。
\"Well，whatdoyouthinkofthat？\"shesaidfinally。\"Wasn’titwonderful？ItmakesoneproudtobeaCanadian。Whatacountrythatmustbe！IfIwereonlyaman！It’stoobadthatmenhaveallthegoodthings。Wouldn’tyouliketogoyourself？\"
\"ThatIwould，\"saidtheoldladyeagerly，\"thatIwould。ButI
doubtit’snotforme。Butyon’saman。\"
\"Yes，\"criedHelenenthusiastically，\"heisamantofollow。Ofcourse，itwasastrangesermonforachurch——thosestoriesofhis，Imean，andallthosefiguresaboutcoalbedsandgoldandcattle。
I’mnotusedtothatsortofthingandIdon’tliketoseethepeoplelaugh。\"
\"Ay，he’swise，\"repliedtheoldladyshrewdly。\"Whenamanlaughshe’snearertolettinghismoneygo。Ay，he’swise，yonman。\"
\"Ofcourse，Ithinkhe’sextreme，\"saidHelen。\"YouwouldthinktohearhimtherewasnoplacebuttheWestandthateveryyoungministermustgooutthereandgiveupeverything。\"
\"There’sfewtogo，Idoubt，\"saidtheoldladyinamusingtone，\"andyonareterrible—likeplacesforthoseladstolive。\"
\"Yes，buteveryonecan’tgo。\"
\"No，no。That’sit。That’sjustit。Notmanycangoandnotmanyarefittogo。Butthosethatcan——\"theoldladypaused，drawingherbreathinsharply。
\"Butsurelyamanmaydohisworkwithoutgivingupeverythingheholdsdear，\"persistedHelen。
\"’Forsakethnotallthathehath，’\"quotedtheoldladysoftly。
\"Yes，butthat’snotforeverybody，\"insistedHelen。
\"’Whosoever，’\"quotedMrs。Macgregoragain，withasternrelentlessnessinhertone。\"Ay，therewillbenoslippingoutfromunderyon。\"
\"Butsurely，\"arguedHelen，\"itisnotreasonabletothinkthateveryyoungministerisboundtoforsakehomeandfriends，andallthat，andgoouttothesewildplaces。\"
\"Noteveryonewillbecalled。Theapplicationwillnotbeeasyforanyofus，Idoubt。Oh，no！itwillnotbeeasy。\"
\"Butsurely，Mrs。Macgregor，thereareotherclaimsuponmen。\"
\"Thereissonlyoneclaim，lassie，onlyoneclaim。Hisclaimisthefirst。Allotherclaimswilljustbeworkingoutthatfirstone。Ay，that’sit，\"shesaid，asifarrivingatdecision，\"onlyoneclaim。
Godpeetyus！Oneclaim，\"sheaddedwithasuddenbreakinhervoice。
AtthatbreakHelenglancedattheoldlady。Thestrongfacewasworkingstrangely。Thetearswereslowlymakingtheirwaydownthewrinkledface。
\"Oh，Mrs。Macgregor！\"exclaimedHelen，\"thatseemsanawfullyharddoctrine。DoyouthinkGodeverwantsamantoleavefather，mother，wife，helplessbehind？\"
\"No，no，lassie，nothelpless。But——，\"shecouldgonofurther。
\"But，\"shecontinuedafteramomentortwo，clutchingHelenbythearm，\"he——will——be——going——away，lassie，hewillbegoingaway。Hewillbeleavingmeand——itissthewilloftheLord。Oh！lassie，lassie，heedmenot。Hemustneverseethetearsonmyface。\"
\"Don’t！don’t！\"criedHeleninasuddenanguish。Shehadnoneedoffurtherwordstotellherwhattheoldladymeant。\"Hewouldneverdosuchathing！Hecouldnotdoit！\"
\"Couldnot？\"answeredMrs。Macgregor。\"Ay，hecould，\"shesaidproudly。\"ThankGodhecould。Hewillnotbeshaminghisblood。Butoh！itisshimselfwillcarryasoreheartawaywithhimandleaveasoreheartbehind。\"
\"Oh，Mrs。Macgregor！\"criedHelen，whileherbreathcamefastandherhandwenttoherownheart，\"perhapshewillnotthinkittobehisduty。Perhapshewillnot——\"
\"Indeed，indeed，andIsawitinhissfacelastnight，andclearerthaneverto—day。Hehassheardthevoiceanditissforhimtoobey——andforus。\"
TheywerenearMrs。Macgregor’shome，wheretheothersstoodwaitingforthematthegate。
\"MayIcometoseeyou？\"saidHelenhurriedly。
\"Ay，come，\"saidMrs。Macgregorwithakeenlookather，\"youwillbeneeding——Iwillbeneedinghelp。\"
Theotherstheyfoundeagerlydiscussingthesermon，buttherewaslittlecriticism。TheSuperintendenthadwonhisvolunteers。OnShock’sfacesattheserenityofagreatdecision，inhisdeepblueeyesthelightofagreatenterprise。Ashesaidgood—byetoHelen，shebecameawarethathisusualhesitating，nervousawkwardnesshadgivenplacetoquiet，thoughtfuldignity。Agreatresolveandagreatsacrificehadliftedhimfarabovethingssmallandcommon。
V
\"YEA，ANDHISOWNLIFEALSO\"
WhenHelenenteredherownroomshehadleisuretoanalysethetumultofemotionfillingherheart。Amazement，shame，anger，dismay，grief，weresurgingacrosshersoul。
\"Howcanhethinkofleavinghismother？Itisashame！\"shecriedindignantlytoherself。Butwhythishotsenseofshame？\"Nonsense！\"
sheprotestedvehementlytoherself，\"itisthatpoor，dearoldladyIamthinkingof。\"Sherememberedthatsuddenstabatherheartattheoldlady’sbrokenwords，\"Hewillbegoingaway，lassie，\"andhercheekflamedhotagain。\"Itisallnonsense，\"sherepeatedangrily，andtherebeingnoonetocontradicther，shesaiditagainwithevengreateremphasis。Butsuddenlyshesatdown，andbeforelongshefoundherselfsmilingatthememoryoftheoldlady’sproudcry，\"Couldnot？Ay，hecould。\"Andnowsheknewwhyherheartwassofullofhappypride。ItwasforShock。Hewasamanstrongenoughtoseehisdutyandbraveenoughtofacewhattohimwasthebitternessofdeath，forwellsheknewwhathismotherwastohim。
\"Hewillgo，\"shewhisperedtoherlooking—glass，\"andI’dgowithhimto—morrow。But\"——andherraceflamedhot——\"hemustneverknow。\"
Buthedidcometoknow，tohisowngreatamazementandoverwhelming，humblinggladness。
Shock’sdeterminationtoofferhimselftothefarWestawakenedinhisfriendsvariousemotions。
\"Itisjustanotherinstanceofhowreligiousfanaticismwillleadmentothemostfantasticandselfishacts，\"wasMrs。Fairbanks’
verdict，whicheffectedinBrownaswiftconversion。HithertohehadstrivenwithmightandmaintoturnShockfromhispurpose，usinganyandeveryargument，fairorunfair，topersuadehimthathisworklaywhereithadbeenbegun，inthecitywards。HewasthemoreurgedtothiscoursethathehadshrewdlyguessedHelen’ssecret，sosacredlyguarded。ButonhearingMrs。Fairbanks’exclamation，heatonceplungedintoawarmdefenceofhisfriend’scourse。
\"ThefinestthingIeverheardof，\"hedeclared。\"Nooneknowswhatthesetwoaretoeachother，andyettheretheyare，bothofthem，arrivingattheopinionthatShock’sworkliesintheWest。\"
\"Buttoleavehismotheralone！\"exclaimedMrs。Fairbanksindignantly。
\"Sheisnottobealone，\"saidBrown，makingthereandthenasuddenresolve。\"BythegreatestofluckformeIamturnedoutofmyquarters，andsheistotakemein，andwhileIcan’tfillShock’splace，stillIamsomebody，\"addedBrown，ferventlyhopingtheoldladywouldnotrefusehimshelter。
\"Iamnotsurethatamanisevercalledtoleavehismothertothecareofstrangers，\"saidLloyd，who，afterlongindecisionandmuchconsultationwithvariousfriends，haddeterminedthathisparticulargiftsandtrainingfittedhimforParkChurch。
\"Oh！blankitall！\"saidBrowntoHelen，\"Ican’tstandthatrot！\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，\"saidMrs。Fairbanks，lookinghaughtilyatBrownthroughherglasses。
\"Iwasabouttosay，\"repliedBrown，inthesweetestoftones，\"thatifthesetwowhoaremostinterested，andwhoareextremelysaneandreasonablepersons，havecometoanagreementuponaquestion，I’dbankonthatdecisionasbeingaboutthething。\"AtwhichHelengavehisarmaquicksqueeze。
\"Well，mother，\"saidBetty，\"Ithinkhe’sfine，andIneveradmiredhimsomuchasnow。Youknowhemayneverseeheragain，andshehasthewholeofhisheart。\"
\"Notquite，Iguess，\"saidBrowninalowtonetoHelen，who，blushingvividly，repliedinliketone，\"Youseemtoberemarkablywellinformed。\"
\"Iknow，\"saidBrownconfidently。\"Butheisamineofblindstupidity！Ifsomeonewoulddighimup，explorehim——blasthim，inshort！Confoundhim！\"
ButwhentheSuperintendentlearnedofallthatShock’sdecisioninvolved，hemadeapointtoinsertamonghismultitudinousengagementsavisittotheMacgregorcottage。
\"Itwasagreatscene，Iassureyou，\"saidBrown，whowasdescribingitafterwardstotheyoungladies。
\"ThosetwooldSpartans，alliceandgraniteoutside，allmoltenlavawithin，stooduplookingateachotheraminuteortwowithoutthequiverofaneyelidandthentheoldchiefburredout:\"
\"’Youaretobecongratulateduponyourson，Mrs。Macgregor。’\"
\"’Ay，’saidsheinamatteroffacttone，’hewillbedoinghisduty，Iwarrant。’\"
\"’And，believeme，yourmutualsacrificehasnotbeenunnoticed。’\"
\"’ItisnotgreatbesideHisown，butitissallwecould。Itissourlife。’\"
\"Theoldchapbowedlikeaprinceandthenhisvoiceburredlikeabuzzsawasheanswered，’RememberIdidnotaskyouforhim！’\"
\"’No，itwassnotyou。’\"
\"’ButIwanttotellyou，’saidthechief，’IamproudtogetasonwhofortheCausecanforsakesuchamother，andIthankGodforthemotherthatcangiveupsuchason。’\"
\"Andthenhegrippedherhandwiththatdownwardpullofhis，——hegaveittomeoncewhenheheardIwasShock’sfriend，andnearlyjerkedmeoffmyfeet，——andwithoutmorewordshewasgone，whileI
stoodbehindthemlikeablubberingidiot。\"
\"Oh，isn’tsheadear！\"exclaimedBetty，\"poorthing。\"
\"Poorthing！\"echoedHelenwarmly，\"indeedshedoesn’tthinkso。
She’sasproudofhimasshecanbe，andfeelsherselfrichinhislove;andsosheis。\"
HertoneandmannerstruckBrownwithsuddenpity。
\"Hanghisstupidity！\"hesaidtohimself，\"can’ttheoldblokesee。
Buthehasnotsuchablamedlowopinionofhimselfthathecan’timagineanygirl，muchlessagirllikethat，lookingathim，andevenifhedidcometoseeithewouldnotthinkofaskinghertosharethelifehe’sgoingtooutthere;and，byJove！itwouldbehardenoughforher。IguessIwon’ttaketheresponsibilityofinterferinginthisbusiness。\"
ButBrownhadnoneedtointerfere。Mrs。Fairbanks，ofallpeople，didwhatwasnecessary。OnthemorningofShock’sdepartureitwasshewhodeclaredthatsomeoneshouldtakepityon\"thatdearoldlady，\"andshouldstandbyherinherhourof\"desertion。\"
\"SoIthinkIshalldriveoverthisafternoon;and，Helen，perhapsyouhadbettercomewithme。Youseemtohavegreatinfluencewithher。\"
ButHelenwasofquiteanothermind。Sheshrankfromintrudinguponwhatsheknewwouldbeasacredhourtomotherandson。ButwhenMrs。FairbanksexpressedherdeterminationtogoHelenfinallyagreedtoaccompanyher。
\"Oh，let’sallgo，mother，\"saidBetty。
\"Idonotthinktheywillwantyou，Betty，butyoumaygoalong，\"
andsothethreeladiesproceededintheafternoontotheMacgregorhome。
ButatthepartingofShockandhismothertherewerenotearsorlamentations，oratleastnonethatanycouldwitness。Throughthelongnightbefore，theyeachknewtheothertobekeepingthewatchofloveandagony;yet，eachalone，theydrankthecupofsacrifice。
ItwasonlywhenthemorningwasnearingthatShockcouldbearitnolonger，andhastilydressinghecameintohismother’sroomandkneelingbyherbedsideputhisarmsabouther。
\"Mother，mother，whyhaveyounotbeensleeping？\"hewhispered。
Hismotherturnedtohimandtookhisheadtoherbosominacloseembrace，butnowordscamefromher。
\"But，mother，don’tbegrievinglikethis，\"sobbedShock，\"orhowcanIleaveyouatall。\"
\"Laddie，laddie，whydidyoucomeintome？Ihadmindedtogiveyouupwithouttears，andthisissmyhourofweakness。Therenow，letyourheadliethere。Whist！lad，och—hone。Itisstwenty—fouryearssincefirstyoulaythere，lad，andthoughgriefhasscometomemany’stheday，yetneverthroughyou，neveroncethroughyou，andyouwillberememberingthat，lad。Itwillcomfortyouafter——after—
—afterI’mgone。\"
\"Gone，mother！\"criedShockinsurprise。
\"Yess，forthisissthewordgiventomethisnight，thatyouwillseemyfacenomore。\"
\"Oh，mother！mother！don’tsaythatword，forIcannotbearit，\"andpoorShockburiedhisfaceinthepillow，whilehisgreatframeshookwithsobs。