"There's something I've wanted to tell you, Christopher," he said after a moment, turning his pleasant, manly face upon the other. "Is that so?" asked Christopher, with a sudden desire to avert the impending responsibility. "Oh, but I hardly think I'm the proper person, " he added, laughing. Jim met his eyes squarely. "I'm a plain man," he said slowly, "and though I'm not ashamed of it, I know, of course, that my family have always been plain people. As things are, I had no business on earth to fall in love with your sister, but all the same it's what I've gone and done." Christopher nodded and walked on. "Well, I suppose it's what I should have done, too, in your place," he returned quietly. "I've reproached myself for it often enough," pursued Jim; "but when all is said, how can a man prevent a thing like that? I might as well try to shut my eyes to the sun when it is shining straight on me. Why, everybody else seems dull and lifeless when I look at her--and I seem such a brute myself that I hardly dare touch her hand. All I ask is to be her servant until I die." It took courage to speak such words, and Christopher, knowing it, stopped midway of the little path and regarded Jim with the rare smile which gave a boyish brightness to his face. "By George, you are a trump!" he said heartily. "And as far as that goes, you're good enough for Lila or for anybody else. It isn't that, you see; it's only--" "I know," finished Jim quietly and without resentment; "it's my grandfather. Your sister, Cynthia, told me, and I reckon it's all natural, but somehow I can't make myself ashamed of the old man-- nor is Lila, for that matter. He was an honest, upright body as ever you saw, and he never did a mean thing in his life, though he lived to be almost ninety." "You're right," said Christopher, flushing suddenly; "and as far as I'm concerned, I'd let Lila marry you to-morrow; but as for mother, she would simply never consent. The idea would be impossible to her, and we could never explain things; you must see that yourself." "I see," replied Jim readily; "but the main point is that you yourself would have no objection to our marriage, provided it were possible." "Not a bit; not a bit." He held out his hand, and Jim shook it warmly before he picked up his basket and went to rejoin Lila.