Then，let’sseewhathappened。Oh，yes。Thequestionofthemancameup。Whowastheman？TheSuperintendentwasreadyfor’em。ItwasMacgregorofsomeplace。FrogLake？No，LoonLake。Thentheoppositionthoughttheyhadhimwithahalf—nelson。OldDr。
Macfarrenjumpedontothechiefwithbothfeet。Hismanwasnogood，aflatfailureinhisfield，notact。Begyourpardon，MissFairbanks。Whatdidyousay？\"
\"Oh，nevermind，\"saidHelen。\"Goon。\"
\"Heappealedforcorroborationtohisfriend，thechapupatParkChurch，youknow，thatsleek，kid—glovedfellow。\"
\"Burns？\"askedBrown，innocently，delightedinthereporter’sdescriptionofLloydanddesiringmoreofit。
\"No。Youknowthatoratorchap，liquideyes，mellifluousvoice，andalltherestofit。\"
\"Oh，Lloyd。\"
\"Yes。Well，hetookawhirlandbackedupMacfarren。Evidentlydidn’tthinkmuchoftheSuperintendent’schoice。RemarkedabouthisbeingaHighlander，amanofvisionsandthatsortofthing。\"
\"Whatelsedidhesay？\"inquiredBrown，whowasinaparticularlyhappymood。
\"Oh，alotofstuff，inhismostlordly，patronizingtone。Macgregorwasaverygood，earnestfellow，butheshouldjudgehimtobelackingintactoradaptability，finesensibilities，andthatsortofrot。Butnevermind。Didn’thecatchit！Oh，no。MySallyAnn！
Boilinglardandbluevitriol，andallinthechief’smostsweet—
scentedlavenderstyle，thoughallthetimeIcouldseethedangerlightsburningthroughhisport—holes。ItellyouI’vehadmydiminishedmoments，butIdon’tthinkIwaseverreducedtosuchashadeastheParkChurchchapwhentheSuperintendentwasthroughwithhim。Servehimright，too\"
\"WhatdidtheSuperintendentsay？\"continuedBrown，delightedtofindsomebodywhowouldexpresshisownsentimentswithmoreforceandfulnessthanhecouldcommand。
\"Say！Well，IwishIcouldtellyou。’Mr。LloydsaysheisaHighlander。Yes，heis，thankGod。SoamI。Heisamanofvisions。
Yes，hehasvisionbeyondthelimitsofhisowncongregationandofhisownnativecross—roads，visionforwhatliesbeyondthehorizon，visionforthosemeninthemountainswhoaregoingtothedevil。’A
quotation，MissFairbanks，Iassureyou。’Theseminersandlumbermen，forgottenbyallbuttheirmothers，andGod。’Say，itwasgreat。IfIcouldreproduceittherewouldbeaEuropeantripinit。
ThenheturnedonDr。Macfarren。ItseemsthatMacgregorsomehowhadtoquitsomeplaceintheWestonthepleathathewasnotadaptable，andthatsortofthing。’Dr。Macfarrensayshewasafailure，’wentontheoldchief，usingatleastfiver’s，’Mr。Lloydsaysheisnotadaptable，heislackinginfinesensibilities。ItistrueGoddidnotmakehimwithsleekhair’——which，byJove，wastrueenough——’anddaintyfingers。Andagoodthingitwas，elseourchurchatLoonLake，builtbyhisownhands，thelogscut，shapedandsetinplace，sir，byhisownhands，wouldneverhaveexisted。
HewasafailureattheFort，wearetold。Why？Imadeinquiriesconcerningthat。IwastoldbyagentlemanwhocallshimselfaPresbyterian——Ineednotmentionhisname——thathewasnotsuitabletothepeculiarlyselectandhigh—tonedsocietyofthatplace。No，sir，ourmissionarycouldnotbowandscrape，hewasafailureattennis，hedidnotshineatcardparties，’andhereyoucouldsmellthingssizzling。’Hecouldnotsmileuponlust。No，thankGod！’andtheoldchap’svoicebegantoquiverandshake。’Inallthishewasafailure，andwouldtoGodwehadmoreofthesamekind！’’Amen，’
’ThankGod，’’That’strue，’themenaroundthetablecried。I
thoughtIhadstruckaMethodistrevivalmeeting。\"
\"Whatelsedidhesay？\"saidBrown，whocouldhardlycontainhimselfforsheerdelight。
\"Well，hewentonthentoyarnaboutMacgregor’swork——howachurchandclubhousehadbeenbuiltinoneplace，andahospitalandallthatsortofthing，inanother，andthenhetoldusstoriesofthedifferentchapswhohadbeenapparentlysnatchedfromthemouthofhellbyMacgregor，andwerereadytoliedownandlethimwalkoverthem。Itwasgreat。TherewasanIrishmanandaFrenchman，I
remember，bothRomanCatholics，butbothreadytoswallowtheConfessionofFaithiftheProspectororderedthem。Yes，thatwasanotherpoint。Macgregor，itseems，wasaregularfiendforhuntingupfellowsandrootingthemouttochurch，andsotheydubbedhim’theProspector。’Theoldchiefstuckthatin，Itellyou。Thentherewasadoctorand，oh，alotofchaps，——acowboyfellownamedIke，whowasparticularlygoodcopyifonecouldreproducehim。Andthen——\"hereTommyhesitated——\"well，it’sworthwhiletelling。Therewasagirlwhohadgonewrong，andhadbeenbroughtback。Tohearthechieftellthatyarnwasprettyfine。Idon’tturnthewaterworksonwithoutconsiderablepressure，butItellyoumytankscameprettynearoverflowingwhenhetalkedaboutthatpoorgirl。
Andthen，atthemostdramaticmoment——thatoldchapknowshisbusiness——hebroughtonMacgregor，announcinghimas’theProspectorofFrogLake，no，LoonLake。’Well，hewasnotmuchtolookat。Hishairwasnotslick，andhisbeardlookedalittlelikeapaintbrush，hispantsranuponhisboots，andbaggedattheknees。\"
\"Hehadjustcomeoffthetrain，\"hastilyinterposedBrown，\"Hehadn’tamomenttodresshimself。\"
\"Well，asIsay，hewasn’tprettytolookat，andtheygavehimakindoffrostyreception，too。\"
\"Well，whathappened？\"inquiredBrown，anxioustogetoverthispartofthedescription。
\"Well，theybeganfiringquestionsathimhotandfast。Hewasalittlerattledforawhile，butafterabithegotintohisstride，putdownhismap，laidouthiscountryandbeganpouringinhisfacts，tillwhentheylethimouttheylookedforalltheworldlikealotofmenwhohadbeenstruckbyawhirlwindandweretryingtogetbacktheirbreathandotherbelongings。\"
\"Well，whatdidtheydothen？\"
\"Oh，thethingpassed，Iguess。Ileft’emandwentafterthemanfromtheWest。IthoughtIhadstruckoil。Ihadvisionstoo。\"
\"Well，didyougethim？\"
\"Idid，buttherewasnotanyoil。Itwasrock，hard，coldScotchgranite。I’msomethingofaborer，butItellyouwhat，heturnedmyedge。Itwasnouse。Hewouldn’ttalk。\"
\"Goodby。Comearoundandseeyourmanatmyrooms，\"saidBrownheartily。\"I’llpumphimforyou，andyoucancatchtheoil。\"
\"Youwill，eh？Allright，setamugforme。\"
\"Greatboy，thatTommy，\"saidBrown，whowassmittenwithasuddenenthusiasticadmirationforthereporter。\"Cleverchap。He’llmakehismarkyet。\"
Helenwalkedforsomedistanceinsilence。\"Is——ishe——isMr。
Macgregorwithyou？\"sheinquiredatlength。
\"Yes，Mr。Macgregoriswithme，\"mimickedBrown。\"Willyousendhimacard？\"
\"Now，Brownie，stop，\"saidHelenindistress。\"Hehasnotbeenhomeyet，hashe？\"
\"No。Why？\"
\"Couldyoukeephimawaytillabouteleventomorrow？\"
\"Yes，IsupposeImight。Hehasgottogetsomeclothesandgetsomeofthewooloffhim。Butwhydoyouask？\"
\"Well，IthoughtIwouldjustruninanddust，andputsomeflowersup，and，youknow，makeitalittlemorehomelike。\"
\"Helen，you’reabrick。IhaddecidedtodropyoubecauseIdidn’tloveyou，butIamchangingmymind。\"
\"Well，donotlethimgobeforeeleven。Everythingwillberightbythattime。\"
\"Good！\"saidBrown，withanebullitionofrapture，whichheimmediatelysuppressedasHelen’seyeswereturnedinquiringlyuponhim。\"Yousee，\"heexplainedhurriedly，\"hehasbeenintheWestandwillneedtogetalotofthings，andthatwillgiveyouplentyoftime。There’smycar。Good—by。Wehavehadahappyafternoon，eh？\"
\"Oh，yes，veryhappy，thankyou，\"saidHelen，butshecouldnotquitesuppressalittlesigh。
\"Well，good—by，\"saidBrown，andhewentoff，jubilanttohiscar。
Hesatdowninacorner，andthoughthardtillhecametohisstreet。\"Ifhe’llonlyplayupwe’llwin，surething。Butwillhe，confoundhim，willhe？Well，thekick—offwillbeto—morrow。\"
HefoundShockwaitinginhisrooms，withafacesograveandsosadthatBrown’sheartgrewsoreforhim。
\"Comeon，oldchap，we’llgotogrub。ButfirstIamgoingtogroomyouabit。We’lltakeafootortwooffyourhairsincethefootballseasonisover;andIthink，\"examininghimcritically，\"wecansparethatbeard，unlessyouareveryfondofit。\"
Shockprotestedthathehadnoparticularloveforhisbeard;itwasbetterforthecoldweather，anditwasnotalwaysconvenientforhimtoshave。
WhenthebarberhadfinishedwithShock，Brownregardedhimwithadmiration。
\"Youareallright，oldchap。Isay，you’vegotthin，haven’tyou？\"
\"No，Iamprettymuchinmyplayingform。\"
\"Well，thereissomethingdifferent。\"Andtherewas。Theboyishlinesofhisfacehadgivenplacetothosethatcometomenwiththecaresandgriefsandresponsibilitiesoflife。AndasBrownlookedoverShock’shard，leanface，hesaidagain，withemphasis，\"You’lldo。\"
AfterdinnerShockwanderedabouttheroomsuneasilyforatime，andfinallysaid，\"Isay，Brown，Iwouldliketogouphome，ifyoudon’tmind。\"Theyhadnotyetspokenofwhateachknewwasuppermostintheother’smind。
\"Allright，Shock。Butwouldn’titbebetterinthemorning？\"
\"Iwanttogoto—night，\"saidShock。
\"Well，ifyouareboundto，wewillgoupinanhourortwo。There’salotofthingsIwanttotalkabout，andsomethingstoarrange，\"
repliedBrownhopingthatinthemeantimesomethingmightturnuptopostponethevisittillthemorning。
ForasecondtimethatdayFortunesmileduponBrown，forhardlyhadtheysettleddownforatalkwhentheSuperintendentappeared。
\"Iamgladtofindyouin，\"hesaid，givingShock’shandavigorousshake。\"Icametoofferyoumycongratulationsuponyourappearancethisafternoon，andalsototellyouthattheCommitteehaveappointedyoutoaddresstheAssemblyonHomeMissionnight。\"
\"Hooray！\"criedBrown。\"YourCommittee，Doctor，iscomposedofmenwhoevidentlyknowagoodthingwhentheyseeit。\"
\"Sometimes，Mr。Brown，sometimes，\"saidtheSuperintendent，shrewdly。
ButShockrefusedutterlyandabsolutely。
\"Iamnospeaker，\"hesaid。\"Iamafailureasaspeaker。\"
\"Well，Mr。Macgregor，Iwillnottakeyourrefusalto—night。ItistheCommittee’srequest，andyououghttohesitatebeforerefusingit。\"
\"Amancandonomorethanhisbest，\"saidShock，\"andIknowI
cannotspeak。\"
\"Well，thinkitover，\"saidtheSuperintendent，preparingtogo。
\"Oh，sitdown，sitdown，\"criedBrown。\"YoumustwanttohaveatalkwithShockhere，andIwanttohearallaboutthisafternoon。\"
\"Well，\"saidtheSuperintendent，seatinghimself，\"itisnotoftenI
haveachancetotalkwithaProspector，soIwillacceptyourinvitation。\"AndbythetimethetalkwasdoneitwastoolateforShocktothinkofvisitinghishome，andBrownwentasleepwiththehappyexpectationofwhathecalledthe\"kick—off\"nextday。
XXI
THEWAITINGGAME
Brownwasearlyastir。HeknewthathecouldnotkeepShocksofullyemployedastopreventhisgoinghomelongbeforeteno’clock，anditwaspartofhisplanthatShock’sfirstmeetingwithHelenshouldtakeplaceinhisownmother’shouse。
\"Thefirstthingwemustdo，\"heannounced，\"istoseeatailor。IfyouaregoingtoaddresstheGeneralAssemblyyouhavegottogetpropertogs。Andanyway，youmayaswellgetasuitbeforeyougoWestagain。Iknowasplendidtailor——cheap，too。\"
\"Well，hewillneedtobecheap，\"saidShock，\"forIcannotafordmuchforclothes。\"
\"Well，Iwillseeaboutthat，\"saidBrown。Sohedid，foraftersomeprivateconversationwiththetailor，thepricesquotedtoShockwerequitewithinevenhissmallmeans。
Itwashalf—pastninebeforetheyreachedShock’shome。Browntookthekeyoutofhispocket，openedthedoor，andallowedShocktoenter，waitingoutsideforafewmoments。
WhenhefollowedShockinhefoundhimstillstandinginthecentreofthelittleroom，lookingaboutuponthefamiliarsurroundings，thearticlesoffurniture，thepicturesonthewall，hismother’schairbesidethetable，withherBibleandglassesathand。
AsBrowncameinShockturnedtohimandsaid，\"Isthissomemoreofyourkindness，Brown？Haveyoutakenthiscareofeverything？\"
\"No，\"saidBrown，\"thatisnotmywork。Every，weeksincethehousewasclosedHelenhascomeoverandkeptthingsright。\"
WithoutanyreplyShockpassedintohismother’sroom，leavingBrownalone。
Whenhalfanhourhadpassed，Brown，glancingoutofthewindow，sawHelenapproaching。
\"Thankgoodness！\"heexclaimed，\"heresheisatlast。\"
Heopenedthedoorforher。
\"Oh，goodmorning，\"sheexclaimedinsurprise。\"Iamsurethisisverykindofyou。\"
\"Yes，IthoughtIwouldhelp，\"saidBrowninaloudvoice。\"Yousee，Shockwasanxioustocome，andIthoughtIwouldcomeupwithhim。
Heisinthenextroom。Hewillbeoutinaminute。Wewerecominguplastnight，butcouldnotgetaway。TheSuperintendentdroppedin，andwetalkedtillitwastoolate。\"Brownkeptthestreamofhisremarksflowingasifhefearedapause。
Helenlaidthebunchofflowersshewascarryinginherhanduponthetable。
\"Oh，Brown，\"sheexclaimed，\"howcouldyou！Thisisveryunkind。\"
Sheturnedtogo。
\"Holdon，\"saidBrowninaloudvoice。\"Shockwillbehereinaminute。He’llbesorrytomissyou，Iamsure。\"
ForamomentHelenstoodirresolute，whenthedooropenedandShock，pale，butquietandself—controlled，appeared。Hehadjustbeenfacetofaceforthefirsttimewithhisgreatgrief。Thethoughtthatfilledhismind，overwhelmingallothers，wasthathismotherhadpassedforeverbeyondthetouchofhishandandthesoundofhisvoice。Nevertillthatmomenthadhetakeninthefullmeaningofthechangethathadcometohislife。
Duringtheminuteshehadspentinhismother’sroomhehadallowedhismindtogobackoverthelongyearssofulloffondmemory，andthenhehadfacedthefuture。Alonehenceforthhemustgodownthelongtrail。Byhismother’sbedhehadknelt，andhadconsecratedhimselfagaintothelifeshehadtaughthimtoregardasworthy，andwiththeresolveinhishearttoseektobethemanshewoulddesirehimtobeandhadexpectedhimtobe，herosefromhisknees。
Whenheopenedthedoorthedignityofhisgreatgriefandofaloftypurposewasuponhim，andhegreetedHelenunembarrassedandwithasereneconsciousnessofself—mastery。
\"Iamgladtoseeyou，MissFairbanks，\"hesaid，takingherhand。\"I
amgladthatwemeethere，foritwashere，inthishouse，thatyougavesuchlovingandtendercaretomydearmother。HoweverlongI
maylive，whatevermaycometome，Ishallneverforgetwhatyoudidforherthroughalltheyear，andatthelast。\"
HisquietdignityrestoredtoHelenherself—possession。
\"IdidallIcouldforher。Iwasgladtodoit，becauseIlovedher。ButshedidmoreformethaneverIcouldhavedoneforher。
Herlastillnesswasverybrief，andherdeathwasfullofpeace。\"
\"Tellme，\"saidShock，placingachairforher。\"Iwanttoknowall。\"
Withgentle，sweetsympathythestorywastoldinallitsbeautifuldetails，tilltheveryend。InstinctivelyHelenseemedtoknowthepointsthatShockwoulddesiretohear，andhelistenedtoherwithhisheartshiningthroughhiseyes。
\"Thankyou，thankyou，\"hesaid。\"Nevercanthankyouenoughforallthatyouhavedone。Andyou，too，havehadyourgreatsorrow。Browntoldmeaboutitall。\"
AtthisBrownrosehastily，andlookingoutofthewindow，exclaimed，\"Isay，there’sBoyle。Waitforme。\"
\"Yes，\"saidHelen，whenBrownhadgone，\"itwasaterriblegrief，andmotherhasneverrecoveredfromit，norwillshe。Bettywasthelifeofourhouse。Shewassobright。\"
\"Oh，bright，indeed。HowwellIrememberherbrightnessthatnightinyourhome。\"
\"Iremember，\"saidHelen。\"AndMr。Balfour，\"shecontinued，\"TheDon。Hehasbeenwithyou？\"
\"Yes，indeed，poorchap。Andnoblyhehasdone，\"andShocktoldofTheDonandofhisworkinthePass。
\"Howgoodyouhavebeen，\"exclaimedHelen，\"andhowmuchyouhavedone。Iamsothankful，andsoproud。Weareallsoproudofyou。\"
\"No，\"saidShockgravely，\"thatisnottheword，MissFairbanks。
Thereisnoroomforpride。\"
\"Well，wethinkso，\"repliedHelen。\"Youwillcometoseeus？Motherwillbesoglad。\"
Helenwaswonderingatherowncalmness。ShecouldhardlymakeherselfbelievethatshewastalkingtoShock，andsoquietly，inthisroomwheresoshortatimeagohehadheldherinhisarms。
\"Idonotknow，\"repliedShock。\"Itmaybeaswellnotto——nottoseemuch——toseeyou。\"
Shockbecameunexpectedlyconsciousoftheirpreviousrelations。Thememoryofthatsceneinwhichtheyhadbeenthechiefactorscamevividly，beforehim。Forweekshehaddreadedthisinterview，andnowitwasalmostover。Hefeltlikeamanwho，inthehourofvictory，isunexpectedlythreatenedwithdefeat。Well，soonerorlaterhemustspeakhismindplainly;therewouldneverbeabetterchancethannow，andthoughhewishedhecouldgetbackthatperfectself—masteryofthepastfewminutes，heresolvedtogothroughwithitnow。Hetookholdofhimselfwithasterngrip。
Helensawitinhisface。Agreatfearseizedher;Shestartedup。
\"Oh，Imustrun！\"sheexclaimed。\"Youwillbesuretocomeandseeus，Mr。Macgregor。Indeed，youmustcome。\"
Hermannerwaslight，almostfrivolous。Shockfeltthechangeinstinctively，readherfear，anddecidedthatthemomentforspeechhadpassed。
\"Good—by，\"hesaid，lookingsteadilyintohereyes。\"Good—by。Godblessyouforyourkindnessto——tousboth。\"
Thelittlecatchinhisvoicereachedthegirl’sheart，andthetearssprangtohereyes。
\"Good—by，\"shesaidhurriedly。\"Good—by，\"andwasgone。
AlittlewaydownthestreetshemetBrown。
\"Well？\"
\"Well，itisallover。Iamthankful，too。Yes，sothankful。\"
\"Well，I’llbe——\"Brownlefthissentenceunfinishedandturnedawayfromherimpatiently。
HefoundShockstillsittingatthetable，unspeakablemiseryshowinginhiseyes。
\"Well，oldchap，\"Brownsaidkindly，puttinghishanduponhisfriend’sshoulder。
\"Thatisover，thankGod！\"saidShock。\"Iwasafraidofit，butitisovernow。\"
\"Itis，eh？\"saidBrowncrossly。\"Well，let’sgo。You’retwoofakind。Comeon。You’llhavetogetatyourspeechnow。\"
\"Myspeech？\"saidShock，risingwearily。\"Nospeechforme。\"
\"Itellyouwhat，Shock，\"saidBrown，withatouchofimpatience，\"youthinktoomuchofyourself。\"
\"DoI，Brown？Well，perhapsso，\"saidShock，humbly。
\"Oh，confoundyouroldcarcass！\"criedBrown，throwinghisarmroundShock’sneck。\"You’llbemydeathyet。Atthesametime，yououghttospeak，andIbelieveyouwill。IfIknowyourconscienceitwon’tletyourest。\"
ItturnedoutthatBrownwasright，forwhentheSuperintendentwroteanotetoShockaskinghimformallyonbehalfoftheCommitteetoaddresstheAssemblyonHomeMissionnight，thelastsentenceinhisletterdeterminedShocktoaccept。
\"Iknowwhatthiswillcostyou，\"theSuperintendentwrote，\"butthecauseisnotyoursnormine。ItisHis。AndforHissakeIbelieveyouwilldothis。\"
\"Iknewyouwould，oldchap，\"saidBrownexultantly。\"Ifafellowcouldgetthecombinationofyourconsciencehecoulddowhathelikedwithyou。\"
\"Well，IsupposeiftheywishmetomakeanexhibitionofmyselfI
shouldnotrefuse，andafterall，whatmatterhowIspeak？Iwillfail，Iknow，butIwilldomybest。\"
\"Neverafail，\"criedBrown。\"Don’tpreachatthem。Tellthemyarns。
That’swhatyourchiefdoes。Nowyouhearme。\"
Thisprovedtobegoodadvice，forwhenthechairmanintroducedShockastheProspectorfromLoonLake，Shocksimplybegan，asBrownsaid，to\"yarn。\"
\"ThatiswhatPeraultandIkecalledme，\"werehisfirstwords，andfromthatmomenttillthecloseofhisspeechhehadhisaudienceleaningforwardandlisteningwithearsandeyesandheart。Hemadenoattemptatfinespeaking，butsimplytoldthemofhisfriendsintheWest，ofthemenhehadcometoloveasbrothers，andwhohadcometolovehim。
AstheycamedownthestepsoftheParkChurch，wherethemeetingwasheld，BrowncouldhardlykeeppacewithHelenasshedancedalongbesidehim。
\"Oh，wasn’thesplendid！\"shecried，\"wasn’thesplendid！\"
\"Splendid？\"saidBrown。\"There’snotawordbigenoughleft。\"
\"Oh，Iamsohappy，\"sangHelen。
\"Why，what’sthematterwithyou？\"criedBrown。
\"Oh，nothing，nothing，\"andshebubbledoverwithhappylaughteruntilBrowngrewgloomyandcross。ButHelendeignedhimnofurtherexplanationofheroverflowingjoy，andlefthim，stillsullenandsomewhatindignant，atherdoor。
Herradiantfacecaughthermother’seyeassheenteredtheroom。
\"Well，mychild，youarelookingveryhappy。Ihavenotseenyoulooksobrightformonths。Youareverybeautiful，mydaughter，\"
saidhermother，puttingherarmaroundherdaughterasHelenstoopedtokissher。
\"Oh，mother，\"criedHelen，\"Iamveryhappy。\"
\"Well，darling，itmakesmehappytohearyousayso。Has——hasMr。
Lloydspokentoyou？\"
\"Mr。Lloyd？\"Helenlaughedgleefully。\"No，mother，heknowsbetterthanthat。Oh，mother，Shocklovesme。\"
\"What！Hashedaredtospeak—afterpromising——\"
\"No，mother，hehasnotspoken，notwithhislips。ButIknowit，I
knowit，andoh，Iamsoglad。\"
\"Whatofhisplaindeclarationtomethathehadgivenyouup？\"
\"Oh，Idon’tcare，mother。Hehasnotchanged，\"criedthehappygirl。\"Helovesmejustthesameasever。\"
\"AndwhatofthegirlMr。Ambhergtoldusof？\"
\"No，mother，thereisnoothergirl，\"criedHelen。\"Idon’tcarewhotoldyou。\"
\"Helen，Iamashamedofyou，\"exclaimedhermother，angrily。\"Dearmother，\"saidHelen，fallingonherkneesandputtingherarmsabouthermother，\"Icannothelplovinghim，andIcannothelpbeinghappy。Oh，mother，heissplendid。Yououghttohaveheardhimto—
night，andyououghttohaveseenthepeople。Why，theministersalmosthuggedhim。Andoh，mother，mother，ashecamedownandpassedmyseat，heturnedandlookedatme。Hedidnotexpecttoseeme，andhewasoffhisguard，andthenIknew，oh，Iknew。Heisjustthesame。Oh，mother，behappywithme。\"
Hermotherburstintotears。
\"Oh，\"shesobbed，\"IthoughtIwastohaveonechildleft。Iamindeedbereaved。\"
\"Hush，mother，\"criedHelen。\"Iwillnotleaveyou。\"
\"Butyoulovehim？\"
\"Yes，yes。Withallmyheart。\"
\"Hewillnotgiveuphisworkinthatawfulcountry？\"
\"No，\"saidthegirlproudly，\"hewillnot，notevenforme。ButhewilllovemealwaysandIwilllovehim，andthatisenoughjustnow。\"
\"Helen，listentome。Youwillnevermarryhimwithmyconsent，\"
saidMrs。Fairbanks，determinedly。
\"Andhewouldnevermarrymewithout，\"repliedHelen。
\"What，then，isyourfuturetobe？\"
\"Oh，Iwillstaywithyou，motherdarling。\"
\"Andhe？\"inquiredMrs。Fairbanks。
\"He？Oh，Idon’tknow，buthewillalwaysloveme，mother。\"
IndesperationMrs。FairbankssentnextdayforShock。Heronehope，layinhisfinesenseofhonour，andinhisgenerosity。
\"Mr。Macgregor，\"shesaid，whenShockstoodbeforeher，\"Iwanttoappealtoyourgenerosity。Youwillnotstandinthewayofmydaughter’shappiness？\"
\"Mrs。Fairbanks，IthoughtIhadmademyselfclear。WhatmorecanI
sayordo？\"
\"Shefanciesyoustillloveher。Couldnotyoudisabuseherofherfoolishfancy？\"
\"TellherIdonotloveher？\"askedShock。\"ThatIcannotdo。Itwouldbefalse。\"
\"Oh，Mr。Macgregor，\"criedMrs。Fairbanks，weeping，\"ifyouforcemychildfrommeIwilldie。\"
Shockwasgreatlydisturbedathertears。
\"Mrs。Fairbanks，Icouldneverforceyourdaughterawayfromyou，butIshallalwaysloveher。CanIsaymore？\"
\"Ihavetoldher，\"saidMrs。Fairbanksbetweenhersobs，\"Iwillneverconsenttohermarriagewithyou。\"
Shock’sheartgavealeap。
\"Andwhatdidshesay？\"heinquiredinanunsteadyvoice。
\"Shesaidyouwouldnotmarryherwithoutmyconsent。\"
\"Andthatistrue，\"saidShock。
\"Andwhat，then，willyoudo？\"inquiredMrs。Fairbanks。
Shockthrewuphishead，withjoyillumininghisface。
\"I——we——\"changingthepronounwithasuddenecstasyofrapture，\"wecanwait。\"
\"Andhowlong，pray？\"inquiredMrs。Fairbanks，scornfully。
\"Howlong？\"Hepausedasifponderingthequestion。\"Forever！\"
\"Shock！\"
Heturnedquickly。Thereatthedoor，inallhergloriousbeauty，hereyesluminouswiththelightoflove，stoodHelen。
\"Helen！\"hecriedaloud，inhissurprise。\"Youheard！Canyou？Canwe？\"
Withamovementofineffablegraceshewasathisside。Heputhisstrongarmsabouther。Shelookedintohiseyes。
\"Yes，Shock，wecanwait——now。\"