His formal array of words might have at any other time, as it has often had, something ludicrous in it, but at this time it is serious and affecting. His noble earnestness, his fidelity, his gallant shielding of her, his generous conquest of his own wrong and his own pride for her sake, are simply honourable, manly, and true. Nothing less worthy can be seen through the lustre of such qualities in the commonest mechanic, nothing less worthy can be seen in the best-born gentleman. In such a light both aspire alike, both rise alike, both children of the dust shine equally.
Overpowered by his exertions, he lays his head back on his pillows and closes his eyes for not more than a minute, when he again resumes his watching of the weather and his attention to the muffled sounds. In the rendering of those little services, and in the manner of their acceptance, the trooper has become installed as necessary to him. Nothing has been said, but it is quite understood. He falls a step or two backward to be out of sight and mounts guard a little behind his mother's chair.

His formal array of words is serious and affecting. His noble earnestness, his gallant shielding of her, his generous conquest of his own pride for her sake, are honourable, manly, and true.
Overpowered by his exertions, he lays his head back on his pillows and closes his eyes for a minute, then resumes his watching of the weather. The trooper has become installed as necessary to him. Nothing has been said, but it is understood. He mounts guard behind his mother's chair.
