, but of late a change has
taken place, and what in thunder is the matter, I cannot make out. Have
you done or said anything? Have you been guilty of any high-falutin'
nonsense of giving her up, and that sort of thing? I fear she is
avoiding me just now, and I feel certain she has been misled in some
way, so you must come down. You really must. Of course you will say you
cannot afford it, but this is too serious a thing for any excuse like
that. Will not your confounded Highland pride let me loan you enough to
bring you down. Anyway, come, if you have to walk."

It must be confessed that Brown's letter produced little effect upon
Shock's mind. The bitterness of his surrender was past, so, at least,
he thought. The happy dream he had cherished for a year was gone
forever. He was quite certain that it was not Brown's but the
Superintendent's letter that determined him to accept appointment as a
delegate to the General Assembly.

"I have no right to command you in this," the Superintendent wrote. "I
wish I had. But I need you, and for the sake of the men you and I know,
I wish you to come down to the Assembly and meet the Committee."

It was undoubtedly the Superintendent's letter, and yet that sudden
leap of his heart as he read his chief's entreaty startled him.

"Nonsense!" he said, shutting his jaws hard together. "That is all done
with." And yet he knew that it would be a joy almost too great to
endure to catch a glimpse of the face that still came to him night by
night in his dreams, to hear her voice, and to be near her.

So Shock came down, and his coming brought very different feelings to
different hearts, to Brown the very news of it brought mad, wild
delight. He rushed to find Helen.

"He is coming down," he cried.

"Is he?" replied Helen, eagerly. "Who?"

"I have seen his chief," continued Brown, ignoring the question. "He
has had a wire. He'll be here day after to-morrow. Oh, let me yell! The
dear old beast! If we could only get him into a jersey, and see him
bleed."

"Don't, Brownie," said Helen, using her pet name for her friend. They
had grown to be much to each other during the experiences of the past
year. "It suggests too much."

"I forgot," said Brown, penitently. "Forgive me. It will be hard for
you."

"And for him. Poor Shock," said Helen. "Don't let him go to his home."

"Not if I can help it," replied Brown.

"And don't--don't--talk about me--much."

"Not if I can help it," replied