in the veins of Hector
Macgregor yonder" (pointing to the portrait of the Highland soldier on
the wall) "was as proud as that in any Lowland trader of you."

"What sort of conduct, then, is this?" answered Mrs. Fairbanks angrily.
"Have you encouraged your son?"

"Hush, mother," said Shock, suddenly awakening to an understanding of
what was happening, "let me speak."

The stern voice compelled silence. Shock was a new man to them all. He
was thinking quickly now for his mother, for himself, but most of all
for the girl he loved, who stood with face turned away and eyes cast
down in intolerable humiliation.

"Mrs. Fairbanks," said Shock, speaking slowly and with quiet dignity,
"if I have not spoken of love to your daughter, it is not because I
have not loved her well and for long, but because I could not feel
myself worthy of her. Hush, mother; I am not worthy of her, nor shall I
ever be, not by reason of any difference in blood,--for there is no
difference,--but because of what she is herself, so far above me. I
have never spoken with my lips of love, and yet for many and many a day
I have feared that my eyes, and all else that could speak, must have
told her I loved her. And if it should be--for I will not pretend to
misunderstand you--if it should be that it is possible she should ever
love me, then there has come to me a joy greater than I could have
hoped, and whatever may, come of it, this day is the happiest of my
life."

As Shock began to speak, Helen lifted her face, and as she listened her
look of grief and shame fled, and in her eyes a light of joy began to
dawn, then grew till it seemed to overflow in waves across her
beautiful face. And as Shock continued his calm, manly words pride
mingled in her joy, and her head lifted itself with a grace and dignity
that matched that of the old lady standing by her side.

Mrs. Fairbanks stood fairly speechless at Shock's words and at the look
of joy and pride she saw upon her daughter's face.

"This is absurd!" she cried at length. "It's preposterous, and it must
end now and forever. I forbid absolutely anything in the way of--of
engagement or understanding. I will not have my daughter tie herself to
a man with such prospects."

"Wait, mother," said Shock, putting his hand out toward the old lady,
who was about to speak. "Mrs. Fairbanks," he continued quietly, "far be
it from me to take advantage of your daughter in any way, and I say to
you here that she is as