第98章

"Oh, nothing, nothing," and she bubbled over with happy laughter until Brown grew gloomy and cross.But Helen deigned him no further explanation of her overflowing joy, and left him, still sullen and somewhat indignant, at her door.

Her radiant face caught her mother's eye as she entered the room.

"Well, my child, you are looking very happy.I have not seen you look so bright for months.You are very beautiful, my daughter,"said her mother, putting her arm around her daughter as Helen stooped to kiss her.

"Oh, mother," cried Helen, "I am very happy.""Well, darling, it makes me happy to hear you say so.Has--has Mr.

Lloyd spoken to you?"

"Mr.Lloyd?" Helen laughed gleefully."No, mother, he knows better than that.Oh, mother, Shock loves me.""What! Has he dared to speak-after promising--""No, mother, he has not spoken, not with his lips.But I know it, Iknow it, and oh, I am so glad."

"What of his plain declaration to me that he had given you up? ""Oh, I don't care, mother.He has not changed," cried the happy girl."He loves me just the same as ever.""And what of the girl Mr.Ambherg told us of?""No, mother, there is no other girl," cried Helen."I don't care who told you.""Helen, I am ashamed of you," exclaimed her mother, angrily."Dear mother," said Helen, falling on her knees and putting her arms about her mother, "I cannot help loving him, and I cannot help being happy.Oh, mother, he is splendid.You ought to have heard him to-night, and you ought to have seen the people.Why, the ministers almost hugged him.And oh, mother, mother, as he came down and passed my seat, he turned and looked at me.He did not expect to see me, and he was off his guard, and then I knew, oh, I knew.He is just the same.Oh, mother, be happy with me."Her mother burst into tears.

"Oh," she sobbed, "I thought I was to have one child left.I am indeed bereaved.""Hush, mother," cried Helen."I will not leave you.""But you love him?"

"Yes, yes.With all my heart."

"He will not give up his work in that awful country?""No," said the girl proudly, "he will not, not even for me.But he will love me always and I will love him, and that is enough just now.""Helen, listen to me.You will never marry him with my consent,"said Mrs.Fairbanks, determinedly.

"And he would never marry me without," replied Helen.

"What, then, is your future to be?"

"Oh, I will stay with you, mother darling.""And he?" inquired Mrs.Fairbanks.

"He? Oh, I don't know, but he will always love me, mother."In desperation Mrs.Fairbanks sent next day for Shock.Her one hope, lay in his fine sense of honour, and in his generosity.

"Mr.Macgregor," she said, when Shock stood before her, "I want to appeal to your generosity.You will not stand in the way of my daughter's happiness?""Mrs.Fairbanks, I thought I had made myself clear.What more can Isay or do?"

"She fancies you still love her.Could not you disabuse her of her foolish fancy?""Tell her I do not love her?" asked Shock."That I cannot do.It would be false.""Oh, Mr.Macgregor," cried Mrs.Fairbanks, weeping, "if you force my child from me I will die."Shock was greatly disturbed at her tears.

"Mrs.Fairbanks, I could never force your daughter away from you, but I shall always love her.Can I say more?""I have told her," said Mrs.Fairbanks between her sobs, "I will never consent to her marriage with you."Shock's heart gave a leap.

"And what did she say?" he inquired in an unsteady voice.

"She said you would not marry her without my consent.""And that is true," said Shock.

"And what, then, will you do?" inquired Mrs.Fairbanks.

Shock threw up his head, with joy illumining his face.

"I--we--" changing the pronoun with a sudden ecstasy of rapture, "we can wait.""And how long, pray?" inquired Mrs.Fairbanks, scornfully.

"How long?" He paused as if pondering the question."Forever!""Shock!"

He turned quickly.There at the door, in all her glorious beauty, her eyes luminous with the light of love, stood Helen.

"Helen!" he cried aloud, in his surprise."You heard! Can you? Can we?"With a movement of ineffable grace she was at his side.He put his strong arms about her.She looked into his eyes.

"Yes, Shock, we can wait--now."

End