He had fairly gentlemanly manners, also; though, in Delaine's opinion, he was too self-confident on his own account, and too boastful on Canada's, But he was a man of humble origin, son of a farmer who seemed, by the way, to be dead; and grandson, so Delaine had heard him say, through his mother, of one of the Selkirk settlers of 1812--no doubt of some Scotch gillie or shepherd.

Such a person, in England, would have no claim whatever to the intimate society of Elizabeth Merton.

Yet here she was alone, really without protection--for what use was this young, scatter-brained brother ?--herself only twenty-seven, and so charming?
so much prettier than she had ever seemed to be at home.

It was a dangerous situation--a situation to which she ought not to have been exposed.

Delaine had always believed her sensitive and fastidious; and in his belief all women should be sensitive and fastidious, especially as to who are, and who are not, their social equals.