“Sincethemillsfailed“thewritersaid“wehaveallgonetoworkanddonealotofthingssothatmothermightkeeponlivingintheoldhouse。Yes，thesalarywouldbeatemptation。But，mydear，isn’tWyomingbadforthecomplexion？AndcouldIsuethemifminegotdamaged？Itisstilladmired。IcouldbringonemalewitnessATLEASTtoprovethat！“Thenthewriterbecamebusinesslikeagain。Evenifshecametofeelthatshecouldleavehome，shedidnotatallknowthatshecouldteachschool。Nordidshethinkitrighttoacceptapositioninwhichonehadhadnoexperience。“Idolovechildren，boysespecially，“shewenton。“MysmallnephewandIgetonfamously。ButimagineifawholebenchfulofboysbeganaskingmequestionsthatIcouldn’tanswer！WhatshouldIdo？Foronecouldnotspankthemall，youknow！AndmothersaysthatIoughtnottoteachanybodyspelling，becauseIleavetheUoutofHONOR。“
AltogetheritwasaletterwhichIcouldassureMr。Taylor“sizedup“verywellwiththeletterswritteninmypartoftheUnitedStates。Anditwassigned，“Yourverysincerespinster，MollyStarkWood。“
“IneverseenHONORspelledwithaU，“saidMr。Taylor，overwhosenothighlycivilizedheadcertainportionsoftheletterhadlightlypassed。
Itoldhimthatsomeold-fashionedpeoplestillwrotethewordso。
“EitherwaywouldsatisfyBearCreek，“saidMr。Taylor，“ifshe’sotherwiseuptorequirements。“
TheVirginianwasnowlookingoverthelettermusingly，andwithawakenedattention。
“’Yourverysincerespinster，’“hereadaloudslowly。
“Iguessthatmeansshe’sforty，“saidTaylor。
“Ireckonsheisabouttwenty，“saidtheVirginian。Andagainhefelltomusingoverthepaperthatheheld。
“Herhandwritingain’tlikeanyI’vesaw，“pursuedMr。Taylor。
“ButBearCreekwouldnotobjecttothat，providedsheknows’rithmeticandGeorgeWashington，andthemkindofthings。“
“Iexpectsheisnotanawfulsincerespinster，“surmisedtheVirginian，stilllookingattheletter，stillholdingitasifitweresometoken。
Hasanybotanistsetdownwhattheseedofloveis？Hasitanywherebeensetdowninhowmanywaysthisseedmaybesown？Inwhatvariousvesselsofgossameritcanfloatacrosswidespaces？
Oruponwhatdifferentsoilsitcanfall，andliveunknown，andbideitstimeforblooming？
TheVirginianhandedbacktoTaylorthesheetofnotepaperwhereagirlhadtalkedasthewomenhehadknowndidnottalk。Ifhiseyeshadeverseensuchmaidens，therehadbeennomeetingofeyes；andifsuchmaidenshadeverspokentohim，thespeechwasfromanestablisheddistance。Butherewasafreelanguage，altogethernewtohim。Itproved，however，notalientohisunderstanding，asitwasalientoMr。Taylor’s。
Wedroveonward，amileperhaps，andthentwo。Hehadlatelybeenfullofwords，butnowhebarelyansweredme，sothatasilencefelluponbothofus。Itmusthavebeenalloftenmilesthatwehaddrivenwhenhespokeofhisownaccord。
“Yourrealspinsterdon’tspeakofherlotthateasy，“heremarked。Andpresentlyhequotedaphraseaboutthecomplexion，“CouldIsuethemifminegotdamaged？“’andhesmiledoverthistohimself，shakinghishead。“WhatwouldshebedoingonBearCreek？“henextsaid。Andfinally:“IreckonthatwitnesswilldetainherinVermont。Andhermother’llkeeplivin’attheoldhouse。“
Thusdidthecow-puncherdeliverhimself，notknowingatallthattheseedhadfloatedacrosswidespaces，andwasbidingitstimeinhisheart。
OnthemorrowwereachedSunkCreek。JudgeHenry’swelcomeandhiswife’swouldhaveobliteratedanyhardshipsthatIhadendured，andIhadendurednoneatall。
ForawhileIsawlittleoftheVirginian。Helapsedintohisnativewayofaddressingmeoccasionallyas“seh“——ahabitentirelyrepudiatedbythislandofequality。Iwassorry。OurcommonperilduringtherunawayofBuckandMugginshadbroughtustoafamiliaritythatIhopedwasdestinedtolast。ButI
thinkthatitwouldnothavegonefarther，saveforacertainpersonage——Imustcallherapersonage。AndasIamindebtedtoherforgainingmeafriendwhoseprejudiceagainstmemightneverhavebeenotherwiseovercome，Ishalltellyouherlittlestory，andhowhermisadventuresandherfatecametobringtheVirginianandmetoanappreciationofoneanother。Withouther，itislikelyIshouldalsonothaveheardsomuchofthestoryoftheschoolmarm，andhowthatladyatlastcametoBearCreek。
VI。EM’LY
Mypersonagewasahen，andshelivedattheSunkCreekRanch。
JudgeHenry’sranchwasnotableforseveralluxuries。Hehadmilk，forexample。Inthosedayshisbrotherranchmenhadthousandsofcattleveryoften，butnotadropofmilk，savethecondensedvariety。Thereforetheyhadnobutter。TheJudgehadplenty。Nextraresttobutterandmilkinthecattlecountrywereeggs。Butmyhosthadchickens。Whetherthiswasbecausehehadfollowedcock-fightinginhisearlydays，orwhetheritwasduetoMrs。Henry，Icannotsay。IonlyknowthatwhenItookamealelsewhere，Iwaslikelytofindnothingbuttheeternal“sowbelly，“beans，andcoffee；whileatSunkCreektheomeletandthecustardwerefrequent。Thepassingtravellerwasgladtotiehishorsetothefencehere，andsitdowntotheJudge’stable。
ForitsfamewasaswideasWyoming。ItwasanoasisintheTerritory’sdesolatebill-of-fare。
ThelongfencesofJudgeHenry’shomeranchbeganuponSunkCreeksoonafterthatstreamemergedfromitscanyonthroughtheBowLeg。Itwasaplacealwayswellcaredforbytheowner，eveninthedaysofhisbachelorhood。Theplacidregimentsofcattlelayinthecoolofthecottonwoodsbythewater，orslowlymovedamongthesage-brush，feedinguponthegrassthatinthoseforeverdepartedyearswasplentifulandtall。Thesteerscamefatoffhisunenclosedrangeandfattenedstillmoreinhislargepasture；whilehissmallpasture，afieldsomeeightmilessquare，wasforseveralseasonsgiventotheJudge’shorses，andoverthisamplespacethereplayedandprosperedthegoodcoltswhichheraisedfromPaladin，hisimportedstallion。Afterhemarried，Ihavebeenassuredthathiswife’sinfluencebecamevisibleinandaboutthehouseatonce。Shadetreeswereplanted，flowersattempted，andtothechickenswasaddedthemuchmoretroublesometurkey。I，thevisitor，waspressedintoservicewhenIarrived，greenfromtheEast。Itookholdofthefarmyardandbeganbuildingabetterchickenhouse，whiletheJudgewasoffcreatingmeadowlandinhisgrayandyellowwilderness。Whenanycow-boywasunoccupied，hewouldloungeovertomyneighborhood，andsilentlyregardmycarpentering。
Thosecow-punchersborenamesofvariousdenominations。TherewasHoneyWiggin；therewasNebrasky，andDollarBill，andChalkeye。
Andtheycamefromfarmsandcities，fromMaineandfromCalifornia。ButtheromanceofAmericanadventurehaddrawnthemallaliketothisgreatplaygroundofyoungmen，andintheircourage，theirgenerosity，andtheiramusementatmetheyboreacloseresemblancetoeachother。Eachonewouldsilentlyobservemyachievementswiththehammerandthechisel。Thenhewouldretiretothebunk-house，andpresentlyIwouldoverhearlaughter。Butthiswasonlyinthemorning。IntheafternoononmanydaysofthesummerwhichIspentattheSunkCreekRanchI
wouldgoshooting，orrideuptowardtheentranceofthecanyonandwatchthemenworkingontheirrigationditches。Pleasantsystemsofwaterrunninginchannelswerebeingledthroughthesoil，andtherewasasoundofripplinghereandthereamongtheyellowgrain；thegreenthickalfalfagrasswavedalmost，itseemed，ofitsownaccord，forthewindneverblew；andwhenateveningthesunlayagainsttheplain，theriftofthecanyonwasfilledwithavioletlight，andtheBowLegMountainsbecametransfiguredwithhuesoffloatingandunimaginablecolor。Thesunshoneinaskywhereneveracloudcame，andnoonwasnottoowarmnorthedarktoocool。AndsofortwomonthsIwentthroughthesepleasantuneventfuldays，improvingthechickens，anobjectofmirth，livingintheopenair，andbaskingintheperfectionofcontent。
Iwasjustlystyledatenderfoot。Mrs。Henryhadinthebeginningendeavoredtoshieldmefromthishumiliation；butwhenshefoundthatIwasinveterateinlayingmyinexperienceofWesternmattersbaretoalltheworld，beggingtobeenlighteneduponrattlesnakes，prairie-dogs，owls，blueandwillowgrouse，sage-hens，howtoropeahorseortightenthefrontcinchofmysaddle，andthatmyspiritsoaredintoenthusiasmatthemeresightofsoordinaryananimalasawhite-taileddeer，sheletmerushaboutwithmyfirearmsandmadenofurtherefforttostaveofftheridiculethatmyblundersperpetuallyearnedfromtheranchhands，herownhumoroushusband，andanychancevisitorwhostoppedforamealorstayedthenight。
Iwasnotcalledbymynameafterthefirstfeebleetiquetteduetoastrangerinhisfirstfewhourshaddiedaway。Iwasknownsimplyas“thetenderfoot。“Iwasintroducedtotheneighborhoodacircleofeightymilesas“thetenderfoot。“ItwasthusthatBalaam，themaltreaterofhorses，learnedtoaddressmewhenhecameatwodays’journeytopayavisit。AnditwasthisnameandmynotorioushelplessnessthatbidfairtoendwhatrelationsI
hadwiththeVirginian。ForwhenJudgeHenryascertainedthatnothingcouldpreventmefromlosingmyself，thatitwasnotuncommonformetosaunteroutafterbreakfastwithagunandinthirtyminutesceasetoknownorthfromsouth，hearrangedformyprotection。Hedetailedanescortforme；andtheescortwasoncemorethetrustworthyman！ThepoorVirginianwastakenfromhisworkandhiscomradesandsettoplayingnurseforme。Andforawhilethishumiliationateintohisuntamedsoul。Itwashislugubriouslottoaccompanymeinmyrambles，presideovermyblunders，andsavemefromcalamitouslypassingintothenextworld。Heboreitincourteoussilence，exceptwhensneakingwasnecessary。Hewouldshowmethelowerford，whichIcouldneverfindformyself，generallymistakingaquicksandforit。Hewouldtiemyhorseproperly。Hewouldrecommendmenottoshootmyrifleatawhite-taileddeerintheparticularmomentthattheoutfitwagonwaspassingbehindtheanimalonthefurthersideofthebrush。Therewasseldomadaythathewasnotobligedtohastenandsavemefromsuddendeathorfromridicule，whichisworse。Yetneveroncedidhelosehispatienceandhisgentle，slowvoice，andapparentlylazymannerremainedthesame，whetherweweresittingatlunchtogether，orupinthemountainduringahunt，orwhetherhewasbringingmebackmyhorse，whichhadrunawaybecauseIhadagainforgottentothrowthereinsoverhisheadandletthemtrail。
“He’llalwaysstandifyu’dothat，“theVirginianwouldsay。
“Seehowmyhawssstaysrightquietyondeh。“
Aftersuchadmonitionhewouldsaynomoretome。Butthistamenurserybusinesswasassuredlygalltohim。Forthoughutterlyamanincountenanceandinhisself-possessionandincapacitytobeputataloss，hewasstillboyishly，proudofhiswildcalling，andworehisleathersstrapsandjingledhisspurswithobviouspleasure。Histigerlimbernessandhisbeautywererichwithunabatedyouth；andthatforcewhichlurkedbeneathhissurfacemustoftenhavecurbedhisintoleranceofme。InspiteofwhatIknewmustbehisopinionofme，thetenderfoot，mylikingforhimgrew，andIfoundhissilentcompanymoreandmoreagreeable。Thathehadspellsoftalking，IhadalreadylearnedatMedicineBow。Buthispresenttaciturnitymightalmosthaveeffacedthisimpression，hadInothappenedtopassbythebunk-houseoneeveningafterdark，whenHoneyWigginandtherestofthecow-boysweregatheredinsideit。
ThatafternoontheVirginianandIhadgoneduckshooting。Wehadfoundseveralinabeaverdam，andIhadkilledtwoastheysatclosetogether；buttheyfloatedagainstthebreastworkofsticksoutinthewatersomefourfeetdeep，wheretheescapingcurrentmightcarrythemdownthestream。TheJudge’sredsetterhadnotaccompaniedus，becauseshewasexpectingafamily。
“Wedon’twantheralonganyways，“thecowpuncherhadexplainedtome。“Sherunsaroundmightyirresponsible，andshe’llstandaprairie-dog’boutasoftenasshe’llstandabird。She’satriflin’animal。“
Myanxietytoowntheduckscausedmetopitchintothewaterwithallmyclotheson，andsubsequentlycrawloutaslippery，triumphant，welteringheap。TheVirginian’sseriouseyeshadresteduponthisspectacleofmud；butheexpressednothing，asusual。
“Theyain’toverlygoodeatin’，“heobserved，tyingthebirdstohissaddle。“They’redivers。“
“Divers！“Iexclaimed。“Whydidn’ttheydive？“
“Ireckontheywasyoungonesandhadn’texperience。“
“Well，“Isaid，crestfallen，butattemptingtobehumorous，“I
didthedivingmyself。“
ButtheVirginianmadenocomment。Hehandedmemydouble-barrelledEnglishgun，whichIwasabouttoleavedesertedonthegroundbehindme，andwerodehomeinourusualsilence，themeanlittlewhite-breasted，sharp-billeddiversdanglingfromhissaddle。