“No doubt you are honest in your opinions, sir,” said George with quiet dignity. “But I must request you not to insult me again. I shall detain you only a moment.” “I can’t conceive how you dared aspire to _my_ daughter. Did you think _I_ would be impressed by your being a governor?” Helm’s eyes twinkled humorously. “Hardly,” said he. “They say that you own two or three governors. I know Sayler owns nearly a dozen. No, Senator, I didn’t come to you as a public man but just as a chap who loves your daughter and intends to do the best he knows how to make her not regret having married him. You can see for yourself that I’m not pretty to look at, and haven’t the graces of manner, or any of those things to recommend me to a lady. I don’t know why she’s willing to take me. So far as my side of it’s concerned, of course, as soon as I saw _her_ I couldn’t help wanting her.” Helm was so ingenuous and winning that in spite of himself Clearwater was mollified somewhat. “I guess Sayler’s responsible for this,” said he, with a grudging graciousness. “Well--we’ve found him out, and as there’s no harm done we can laugh at him.” “Come to think it over,” said George, “I shouldn’t be surprised if Sayler didn’t have a notion in the back of his head that if he got me married right I’d come round--fall into line and drop my principles.” Clearwater nodded. “And no doubt you will. But _I_ shall not permit _my_ daughter to be used for any such purpose.” Very graciously, after the manner of the thoroughly virtuous, praising the feeble and halting efforts of a young fellow man essaying the lower reaches of the path of virtue: “I congratulate you on your honesty--on not trying the unprincipled game of hiding your principles. I admire an honest man. It must have cost you a struggle.” “No,” said George, “I had nothing to lose by speaking out. You are the courageous one, sir--for you might have lost your daughter--if I had been over sensitive and had taken up your hot words.” Senator Clearwater showed that he was at a loss to understand. Said he: “At any rate, it’s all settled. I shall explain to my daughter. For I must ask you not to try to see her again.” Helm looked at him vaguely. “It would only cause both you and her pain,” explained Clearwater. “Yes, it will distress us both to disregard your advice,” said Helm. “My advice?” inquired the puzzled Clearwater. “You are advising against her marrying me, as I understand it,” explained George. “Of course, we may be mistaken, but we can’t see it that way.” Clearwater was so astounded that his mouth fell open and gave him some difficulty before it permitted him to say: “Why--what in the _hell_ do you mean?”