Mollyremainedsilent。
Herauntlookedslowlyupather。“Hasamanlikethatpresumed——“
“He’snotabitlikethat。Yes，he’sexactlylikethat，“saidMolly。Andshewouldhavesnatchedthephotographaway，butherauntretainedit。“Well，“shesaid，“Isupposetherearedayswhenhedoesnotkillpeople。“
“Heneverkilledanybody！“AndMollylaughed。
“Areyouseriously——“saidtheoldlady。
“Ialmostmight——attimes。Heisperfectlysplendid。“
“Mydear，youhavefalleninlovewithhisclothes。“
“It’snothisclothes。AndI’mnotinlove。Heoftenwearsothers。Hewearsawhitecollarlikeanybody。“
“Thenthatwouldbeamoresuitablewaytobephotographed，I
think。Hecouldn’tgoroundlikethathere。Icouldnotreceivehimmyself。“
“He’dneverthinkofsuchathing。Why，youtalkasifhewereasavage。“
Theoldladystudiedthepicturecloselyforaminute。“Ithinkitisagoodface，“shefinallyremarked。“Isthefellowashandsomeasthat，mydear？“
Moreso，Mollythought。Andwhowashe，andwhatwerehisprospects？weretheaunt’snextinquiries。Sheshookherheadattheanswerswhichshereceived；andshealsoshookherheadoverherniece’semphaticdenialthatherheartwaslosttothisman。
Butwhentheirpartingcame，theoldladysaid:“Godblessyouandkeepyou，mydear。I’llnottrytomanageyou。Theymanagedme——“
Asighspoketherestofthissentence。“ButI’mnotworriedaboutyou——atleast，notverymuch。YouhaveneverdoneanythingthatwasnotworthyoftheStarks。Andifyou’regoingtotakehim，doitbeforeIdiesothatIcanbidhimwelcomeforyoursake。Godblessyou，mydear。“
AndafterthegirlhadgonebacktoBennington，thegreat-aunthadthisthought:“Sheislikeusall。Shewantsamanthatisaman。“Nordidtheoldladybreatheherknowledgetoanymemberofthefamily。Forshewasaloyalspirit，andhergirl’sconfidencewassacredtoher。
“Besides，“shereflected，“ifevenIcandonothingwithher，whatamessTHEY’Dmakeofit！Weshouldhearofherelopementnext。“
SoMolly’simmediatefamilyneversawthatphotograph，andneverheardawordfromheruponthissubject。ButonthedaythatsheleftforBearCreek，astheysatmissingheranddiscussinghervisitintheevening，Mrs。Bellobserved:“Mother，howdidyouthinkshewas？“——“Ineversawherbetter，Sarah。Thathorribleplaceseemstoagreewithher。“——“Oh，yes，agree。Itseemedtome——“——“Well？“——“Oh，justsomehowthatshewasthinking。“——“Thinking？“——“Well，Ibelieveshehassomethingonhermind。“——“Youmeanaman，“saidAndrewBell——“Aman，Andrew？“——“Yes，Mrs。Wood，that’swhatSarahalwaysmeans。“
ItmaybementionedthatSarah’ssurmisesdidnotgreatlycontributetohermother’shappiness。Andrumorissostrangeathingthatpresentlyfromthemaliciousoutsideaircameavagueanddreadfulword——oneofthosewordsthatcannotbetracedtoitssource。SomebodysaidtoAndrewBellthattheyheardMissMollyWoodwasengagedtomarryaRUSTLER。
“Heavens，Andrew！“saidhiswife；“whatisarustler？“
Itwasnotinanydictionary，andcurrenttranslationsofitwereinconsistent。AmanatHoosicFallssaidthathehadpassedthroughCheyenne，andheardthetermappliedinacomplimentarywaytopeoplewhowerealiveandpushing。Anothermanhadalwayssupposeditmeantsomekindofhorse。Butthemostalarmingversionofallwasthatarustlerwasacattlethief。
Nowthetruthisthatallthesemeaningswereright。Thewordranasortofprogressinthecattlecountry，gatheringmanymeaningsasitwent。Itgatheredmore，however，inBennington。Inaveryfewdays，gossiphaditthatMollywasengagedtoagambler，agoldminer，anescapedstagerobber，andaMexicanbandit；whileMrs。FlyntfearedshehadmarriedaMormon。
AlongBearCreek，however，Mollyandher“rustler“tookaridesoonafterherreturn。Theywereneithermarriednorengaged，andshewastellinghimaboutVermont。
“Ineverwasthere，“saidhe。“Neverhappenedtostrikeinthatdirection。“
“Whatdecidedyourdirection？“
“Oh，lookingforchances。IreckonImusthavebeenmoreambitiousthanmybrothers——ormorerestless。Theystayedaroundonfarms。ButIgotout。WhenIwentbackagainsixyearsafterward，Iwastwenty。Theywastalkingaboutthesameoldthings。Menoftwenty-fiveandthirty——yetjustsittin’andtalkin’aboutthesameoldthings。ItoldmymotheraboutwhatI’dseenhereandthere，andshelikedit，righttoherdeath。
Buttheothers——well，whenIfoundthiswholeworldwashawgsandturkeystothem，withalittlegunnin’aftehsmallgamethrowedin，Iputonmyhatonemawnin’andtold’emmaybewhenIwasfiftyI’dlookinon’emagaintoseeifthey’dgotanynewsubjects。Butthey’llnever。Mybrothersdon’tseemtowantchances。“
“Youhavelostagoodmanyyourself，“saidMolly。
“That’scorrect。“
“Andyet，“saidshe，“sometimesIthinkyouknowagreatdealmorethanIevershall。“
“Why，ofcourseIdo，“saidhe，quitesimply。“IhaveearnedmylivingsinceIwasfourteen。Andthat’sfromoldMexicotoBritishColumbia。Ihaveneverstolenorbeggedacent。I’dnotwantyu’toknowwhatIknow。“
Shewaslookingathim，halflisteningandhalfthinkingofhergreat-aunt。
“Iamnotlosingchancesanymore，“hecontinued。“AndyouarethebestI’vegot。“
ShewasnotsorrytohaveGeorgieTaylorcomegallopingalongatthismomentandjointhem。ButtheVirginiansworeprofanelyunderhisbreath。Andonthisridenothingmorehappened。
Lovehadbeensnowboundformanyweeks。Beforethisimprisonmentitscoursehadrunneithersmoothnorrough，sofaraseyecouldsee；ithadruneithernotatall，or，asanundercurrent，deepoutofsight。Intheirrides，intheirtalks，lovehadbeendumb，astospokenwordsatleast；fortheVirginianhadsethimselfaheavytaskofsilenceandofpatience。Then，wherewinterbarredhisvisitstoBearCreek，andtherewasforthewhilenoranchworkorresponsibilitytofillhisthoughtsandbloodwithaction，hesethimselfataskmuchlighter。Often，insteadofShakespeareandfiction，schoolbookslayopenonhiscabintable；andpenmanshipandspellinghelpedthehourstopass。Manysheetsofpaperdidhefillwithvariousexercises，andMrs。
Henrygavehimherassistanceinadviceandcorrections。
“Ishallpresentlybeinlovewithhimmyself，“shetoldtheJudge。“Andit’stimeforyoutobecomeanxious。
“Iamperfectlysafe，“heretorted。“There’sonlyonewomanforhimanymore。“
“Sheisnotgoodenoughforhim，“declaredMrs。Henry。“Buthe’llneverseethat。“
Sothesnowfell，theworldfroze，andthespelling-booksandexerciseswenton。ButthiswasnottheonlycaseofeducationwhichwasprogressingattheSunkCreekRanchwhilelovewassnowbound。
OnemorningScipioleMoyneenteredtheVirginian’ssittingroom——thatapartmentwhereDr。MacBridehadwrestledwithsinsocourageouslyallnight。
TheVirginiansatathisdesk。Openbookslayaroundhim；ahalf-finishedpieceofwritingwasbeneathhisfist；hisfingerswerecoatedwithink。Educationenvelopedhim，itmaybesaid。
Buttherewasnoneinhiseye。Thatwasuponthewindow，lookingfaracrossthecoldplain。
TheforemandidnotmovewhenScipiocamein，andthishumorousspiritsmiledtohimself。“It’sBearCreekhe’shavin’avisionof，“heconcluded。Butheknewinstantlythatthiswasnotso。
TheVirginianwaslookingatsomethingreal，andScipiowenttothewindowtoseeforhimself。
“Well，“hesaid，havingseen，“whenishegoingtoleaveus？
Theforemancontinuedlookingattwohorsemenridingtogether。
Theirshapes，smallinthedistance，showedblackagainsttheuniversalwhiteness。
“Whend’yu’figurehe’llleaveus？“repeatedScipio。
“He，“murmuredtheVirginian，alwayswatchingthedistanthorsemen；andagain，“he。“
Scipiosprawleddown，familiarly，acrossachair。HeandtheVirginianhadcometoknoweachotherverywellsincethatfirstmeetingatMedora。Theywerebirdsmanyofwhosefeatherswerethesame，andtheVirginianoftentalkedtoScipiowithoutreserve。Consequently，ScipionowunderstoodthosetwosyllablesthattheVirginianhadpronouncedpreciselyasthoughthesentenceswhichlaybetweenthemhadbeenfullyexpressed。
“Hm，“heremarked。“Well，onewillbeagain，andtheotherwon’tbenoloss。“
“PoorShorty！“saidtheVirginian。“Poorfool！“
Scipiowaslesscompassionate。“No，“hepersisted，“Iain’tsorryforhim。AnymanoldenoughtohavehaironhisfaceoughttoseethroughTrampas。“
TheVirginianlookedoutofthewindowagain，andwatchedShortyandTrampasastheyrodeinthedistance。“Shortyiskindtoanimals，“hesaid。“HehasgentledthathawssPedroheboughtwithhisfirstmoney。Gentledhimwonderful。Whenamaniskindtodumbanimals，Ialwayssayhehadgotsomegoodinhim。“
“Yes，“Scipioreluctantlyadmitted。“Yes。ButIalwaysdidhateafool。“
“Thishyehisamightycruelcountry，“pursuedtheVirginian。“Toanimalsthatis。Thinkofit！Thinkwhatwedotohundredsan’
thousandsoflittlecalves！Throw’emdown，brand’em，cut’em，earmark’em，turn’emloose，andontothenext。Ithasgottobe，ofcourse。ButIsaythis。Ifamancangojammin’hotironsontolittlecalvesandslicin’piecesoff’emwithhisknife，andlivealong，keepin’akindnessforanimalsinhisheart，hehasgotsomegoodinhim。Andthat’swhatShortyhasgot。Butheislettin’Trampasgetaholdofhim，andbothofthemwillleaveus。“AndtheVirginianlookedoutacrossthehugewinterwhitenessagain。ButtheridershadnowvanishedbehindsomefoothillsScipiosatsilent。Hehadneverputthesethoughtsaboutmenandanimalstohimself，andwhentheywereputtohim，hesawthattheyweretrue。
“Queer，“heobservedfinally“What？“
“Everything。“
“Nothing’squeer，“statedtheVirginian，“exceptmarriageandlightning。Themtwooccurrencescanstillgivemeasensationofsurprise。“
“Allthesameitisqueer，“Scipioinsisted“Well，lethergoatme。“
“Why，Trampas。Hedoneyoudirt。Youpassthatover。Youcouldhavefiredhim，butyoulethimstayandkeephisjob。That’sgoodness。Andbadnessisresultin’fromit，straight。Badnessrightfromgoodness。“
“You’reoffthetrailawholelot，“saidtheVirginian“WhichsideamIoff，then？“
“North，south，east，andwest。Firstpoint。Ididn’texpecttodoTrampasanygoodbynotkillin’him，whichIcameprettyneardoin’threetimes。NorIdidn’texpecttodoTrampasanygoodbylettin’himkeephisjob。ButIamforemanofthisranch。AndI
cansitandtellallmentotheirface:’Iwasabovethatmeanness。’Pointtwo:itain’tanyGOODNESS，itisTRAMPASthatbadnesshasresultedfrom。Puthimanywhereanditwillbethesame。Puthimundermyeye，andIcanfollowhismovesalittle，anyway。Youhavenoticed，maybe，thatsinceyouandIrunontothatdeadPolledAnguscow，thatwasstillwarmwhenwegottoher，wehavefoundnomorecowsdeadofsuddendeath。Wecamemightyclosetocatchin’whoeveritwasthatkilledthatcowandranhercalfofftohisownbunch。Hewasn’ttenminutesaheadofus。Wecanprovenothin’；andheknowsthatjustaswellaswedo。Butourcowshaveallquitdyin’ofsuddendeath。AndTrampashe’sgettin’readyforachangeofresidence。Assoonasalltheoutfitsbeginhirin’newhandsinthespring，Trampaswillleaveusandtakeajobwithsomeofthem。Andmaybeourcows’llcommencegettin’killedagain，andwe’llhavetotakestepsthatwillbemoreemphatic——maybe。“
Scipiomeditated。“Iwonderwhatkillin’amanfeelslike？“hesaid。
“Why，nothingtobotheryu’——whenhe’doughttohavebeenkilled。
Nextpoint:Trampashe’lltakeShortywithhim，whichiscertainlybadforShorty。Butit’smethathaskeptShortyoutofharm’swaythislong。IfIhadfiredTrampas，he’dhaveworkedShortyintodissatisfactionthatmuchsooner。“
Scipiomeditatedagain。“IknowedTrampaswouldpullhisfreight，“hesaid。“ButIdidn’tthinkofShorty。Whatmakesyouthinkit？“
“Heaskedmeforaraise。“
“Heain’tworththepayhe’sgettingnow。’
“Trampashastoldhimdifferent。“
“Whenamanain’tgotnoideasofhisown，“saidScipio，“he’doughttobekindo’carefulwhoheborrows’emfrom。“
“That’smightycorrect，“saidtheVirginian。“PoorShorty！Hehastoldmeabouthislife。Itissorrowful。Andhewillnevergetwise。Itwastoolateforhimtogetwisewhenhewasborn。D’
yu’knowwhyhe’safterhigherwages？HesendsmostallhismoneyEast。“
“Idon’tseewhatTrampaswantshimfor，“saidScipio。
“Oh，ahandytoolsomeday。“
“Notveryhandy，“saidScipio。