“I wish you could understand how much pain it has given me to oppose you, Mr. Armorer,” said Harry, blushing.

“I don’t doubt it, under the circumstances, Mr. Lossing.”  Armorer spoke with suave politeness, but there was a cynical gleam in his eye.

“But Esther understands,” says Harry.

“Esther!” repeats Armorer, with an indescribable intonation.  “You spoke to her this afternoon?  For a man with such high-toned ideas as you carry, I think you took a pretty mean advantage of your guests!”

“You will remember I gave you fair warning, Mr. Armorer.”

“It was while I was in the elevator, of course. 
I guessed it was a put-up job; how did you manage it?”

Harry smiled outright; he is one who cannot keep either his dog or his joke tied up.  “It was Shuey did it,” said he; “he pulled the opposite way from you, and he has tremendous strength; but he says you were a handful for him.”

“You seem to have taken the town into your confidence,” said Armorer, bitterly, though he had a sneaking inclination to laugh himself; “do you need all your workmen to help you court your girl?”

“I’d take the whole United States into my confidence rather than lose her, sir,” answered Harry, steadily.

Armorer turned on his heel abruptly; it was to conceal a smile.  “How about my sister? did you propose before her?  But I don’t suppose a little thing like that would stop you.”

“I had to speak; Miss Armorer goes away tomorrow.  Mrs. Ellis was kind enough to put her fingers in her ears and turn her back.”

“And what did my daughter say?”

“I asked her only to give me the chance to show her how I loved her, and she has.  God bless her!  I don’t pretend I’m worthy of her, Mr. Armorer, but I have lived a decent life, and I’ll try hard to live a better one for her trust in me.”

“I’m glad there is one thing on which we are agreed,” jeered Armorer, “but you are more modest than you were this noon.  I think it was considerably like bragging, sending that woman to tell of your heroic feats!”

“Oh, I can brag when it is necessary,” said Harry, serenely; “what would the West be but for bragging?”

“And what do you intend to do if I take your girl to Europe?”

“Europe is not very far,” said Harry.

Armorer was a quick thinker, but he had never thought more quickly in his life.  This young fellow had beaten him.  There was no doubt of it.  He might have principles, but he declined to let his principles hamper him.  There was something about Harry’s waving aside defeat so lightly, and so swiftly snatching at every chance to forward his will, that accorded with Armorer’s own temperament.

“Tell me, Mr. Armorer,” said Harry, suddenly; “in my place wouldn’t you have done the same thing?”