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?"