ButMrs。Taylorspokeotherwise，andatthatthegirlsaid:“I
shallstayaslongasIamneeded。Iwillnursehim。Iwanttonursehim。IwilldoeverythingforhimthatIcan！“sheexclaimed，withforce。
“Andthatwon’tbeanything，deary，“saidMrs。Taylor，harshly。
“Ayearofnursingdon’tequaladayofsweetheart。“
Thegirltookawalk，——shewasofnomoreserviceintheroomatpresent，——butsheturnedwithoutgoingfar，andMrs。Taylorspiedhercometoleanoverthepasturefenceandwatchthetwohorses——thatonetheVirginianhad“gentled“forher，andhisownMonte。Duringthissuspensecameanewcallforthedoctor，neighborsprofitingbyhisvisittoBearCreek；andinhisgoingawaytothem，evenunderpromiseofquickreturn，Mrs。Taylorsuspectedafavorablesign。Hekepthiswordaspunctuallyashadbeenpossible，arrivingaftersomesixhourswithaconfidentface，andspendingnowuponthepatientacarenotneeded，savetoreassurethebystanders。Hespokehisopinionthatallwasevenbetterthanhecouldhavehopeditwouldbe，sosoon。Herewasnowthebeginningofthefifthday；thewound’slookwaswholesome，nofurtherdeliriumhadcome，andthefeverhadabatedadegreewhilehewasabsent。Hebelievedtheseriousdanger-linelaybehind，andshortoftheunforeseentheman’sdeepuntaintedstrengthwouldreassertitscontrol。Hehadmuchbloodtomake，andmustbecaredforduringweeks——three，four，five——therewasnosayinghowlongyet。Thesenextfewdaysitmustbeutterquietforhim；hemustnottalknorhearanythinglikelytodisturbhim；andthenthetimeforcheerfulnessandgradualcompanywouldcome——soonerthanlater，thedoctorhoped。
Sohedeparted，andsentnextdaysomebottles，withfurthercautionsregardingthewoundanddirt，andtosayheshouldbecallingthedayafterto-morrow。
Uponthatoccasionhefoundtwopatients。MollyWoodlayinbedatMrs。Taylor’s，filledwithapologyandindignation。Withlittletodo，anddeprivedofthestrongstimulantofanxietyandaction，herstrengthhadquitesuddenlylefther，sothatshehadspokenonlyinasortofwhisper。Butuponwakingfromalongsleep，afterMrs。Taylorhadtakenherfirmly，almostseverely，inhand，hernaturalvoicehadreturned，andnowthechieftreatmentthedoctorgaveherwasasortofscolding，whichitpleasedFirs。Taylortohear。Thedoctorevendroppedaphraseconcerningthearroganceofstrongnervesinslenderbodies，andofundertakingseveralpeople’sworkwhenseveralpeoplewereathandtodoitforthemselves，andthispleasedMrs。Taylorremarkably。Asforthewoundedman，hewasbehavinghimselfproperly。Perhapsinanotherweekhecouldbemovedtoamorecheerfulroom。Justnow，withcleanlinessandpureair，anybarnwoulddo。
“Wearerealluckytohavesuchasensibledoctorinthecountry，“Mrs。Taylorobserved，afterthephysicianhadgone。
“Nodoubt，“saidMolly。“Hesaidmyroomwasabarn。“
“That’swhatyou’vemadeit，deary。Butsickmendon’tnoticemuch。“
Nevertheless，onemaybelieve，withoutgoingwidelyastray，thatillness，sofarfromveiling，moreoftenquickenstheperceptions——atanyratethoseofthenaturallykeen。Onalaterday——andtheintervalwasbrief——whileMollywasonherseconddrivetotaketheairwithMrs。Taylor，thatladyinformedherthatthesickmanhadnoticed。“AndIcouldnottellhimthingsliabletodisturbhim，“saidshe，“andsoI——well，IexpectI
justdidn’texactlytellhimthefacts。Isaidyes，youwerepackingupforalittlevisittoyourfolks。Theyhadnotseenyouforquiteawhile，Isaid。Andhelookedatthoseboxeskindofsilentlike。“
“There’snoneedtomovehim，“saidMolly。’“Itissimplertomovethem——theboxes。Icouldtakeoutsomeofmythings，youknow，justwhilehehastobekeptthere。Imean——yousee，ifthedoctorsaystheroomshouldbecheerful——“
“Yes，deary。“
“Iwillaskthedoctornexttime，“saidMolly。“ifhebelievesI
am——competenttospreadaruguponafloor。“Molly’sreferencestothedoctorwereusuallyacidthesedays。Andthishetotallyfailedtoobserve，tellingherwhenhecame，why，tobesure！theverything！Andifshecouldplaycardsorreadaloud，oraffordanyotherlightdistractions，providedtheydidnotleadthepatienttotalkandtirehimself，thatshewouldbemostuseful。
Accordinglyshetookoverthecribbageboard，andcamewithunexpectedhesitationfacetofaceagainwiththeswarthymanshehadsavedandtended。Hewasnotsoswarthynow，butneat，withchinclean，andhairandmustachetrimmedandsmooth，andhesatproppedamongpillowswatchingforher。
“Youarebetter，“shesaid，speakingfirst，andwithuncertainvoice。
“Yes。Theyhavegivenmeawdehsnottotalk，“saidtheSoutherner，smiling。
“Oh，yes。Pleasedonottalk——notto-day。“
“No。Onlythis“——helookedather，andsawherseemtoshrink——“thankyouforwhatyouhavedone，“hesaidsimply。
Shetooktenderlythehandhestretchedtoher；anduponthesetermstheysettoworkatcribbage。Shewon，andwonagain，andthethirdtimelaiddownhercardsandreproachedhimwithplayinginordertolose。
“No，“hesaid，andhiseyewanderedtotheboxes。“Butmythoughtsgetawayfromme。I’llbestrongenoughtoholdthemonthecyardsnexttime，Ireckon。“
Manytonesinhisvoiceshehadheard，butneverthetoneofsadnessuntilto-day。
Thentheyplayedalittlemore，andsheputawaytheboardforthisfirsttime。
“Youaregoingnow？“heasked。
“WhenIhavemadethisroomlookalittlelessforlorn。Theyhaven’twantedtomeddlewithmythings，Isuppose。“AndMollystoopedonceagainamongthechattelsdestinedforVermont。Outtheycame；againthebearskinwasspreadonthefloor，variouspossessionsandornamentswentbackintotheirancientniches，theshelvesgrewcomfortablewithbooks，and，last，someflowerswerestoodonthetable。
“Morelikeoldtimes，“saidtheVirginian，butsadly。
“It’stoobad，“saidMolly，“youhadtobebroughtintosuchalookingplace。“
“Andyourfolkswaitingforyou，“saidhe。
“Oh，I’llpaymyvisitlater，“saidMolly，puttingtherugatriflestraighter。
“MayIaskonething？“pleadedtheVirginian，andatthegentlenessofhisvoiceherfacegrewrosy，andshefixedhereyesonhimwithasortofdread。
“AnythingthatIcananswer，“saidshe。
“Oh，yes。DidItellyu’toquitme，anddidyu’loadupmygunandstay？Wasthatarealbusiness？Ihavebeenmixedupmyhaid。“
“Thatwasreal，“saidMolly。“Whatelsewastheretodo？“
“Justnothing——forsuchasyou！“heexclaimed。“Myhaidhasbeenmightycrazy；andthatlittlegrandmotherofyoursyondeh，she——butIcan’tjustquitecatcha-holdofthesethings“——hepassedahandoverhisforehead——“somany——orelseonerightalong——well，it’sallfoolishness！“heconcluded，withsomethingalmostsavageinhistone。Andaftershehadgonefromthecabinhelayverystill，lookingattheminiatureonthewall。
Hewasinanothersortofmoodthenexttime，cribbagenotinterestinghimintheleast。“Yourfolkswillbewonderingaboutyou，“saidhe。
“Idon’tthinktheywillmindwhichmonthIgotothem，“saidMolly。“Especiallywhentheyknowthereason。“
“Don’tletmekeepyou，ma’am，“saidhe。Mollystaredathim；buthepursued，withthesameedgelurkinginhisslowwords:“ThoughI’llneverforget。HowcouldIforgetanyofallyouhavedone——andbeen？Iftherehadbeennoneofthis，why，Ihadenoughtoremember！Butpleasedon’tstay，ma’am。We’llsayIhadaclaimwhenyu’foundmeprettywelldead，butI’mgettin’well，yu’see——rightsmart，too！“
“Ican’tunderstand，indeedIcan’t，“saidMolly，“whyyou’retalkingso！“
Heseemedtohavecertainmoodswhenhewouldaddressheras“ma’am，“andthisshedidnotlike，butcouldnotprevent。
“Oh，asickmanisfunny。Andyu’knowI’mgratefultoyou。“
“Pleasesaynomoreaboutthat，orIshallgothisafternoon。I
don’twanttogo。Iamnotready。IthinkIhadbetterreadsomethingnow。“
“Why，yes。That’scert’nlyagoodnotion。Why，thisisthebestshowyou’llevergettogivemeeducation。Won’tyu’pleasetrythatEMMAbooknow，ma’am？Listeningtoyouwillbedifferent。“
Thiswassaidwithsoftnessandhumility。
Uncertain——ashisgravityoftenlefther——preciselywhathemeantbywhathesaid，MollyproceededwithEMMA，slacklyatfirst，butsoonwiththeenthusiasmthatMissAusteninvariablygaveher。
Sheheldthevolumeandreadawayatit，commentingbriefly，andthen，finishingachapterofthesprightlyclassic，foundherpupilslumberingpeacefully。Therewasnouncertaintyaboutthat。
“Youcouldn’tbedoingahealthierthingforhim，deary，“saidMrs。Taylor。“Ifitgetstomakehimwakeful，trysomethingharder。“Thiswasthelady’sscarcelysympatheticview。
ButitturnedouttobenotobscurityinwhichMissAustensinned。
WhenMollynextappearedattheVirginian’sthreshold，hesaidplaintively，“IreckonIamadunce。“Andhesuedforpardon。
“WhenIwakedup，“hesaid，“Iwasashamedofmyselfforaplumbhalf-hour。“Norcouldshedoubtthisdaythathemeantwhathesaid。Hismoodwasagainsereneandgentle，andwithoutreferringtohissingularwordsthathaddistressedher，hemadeherfeelhiscontrition，eveninhissilence。
“Iamrightgladyouhavecome，“hesaid。Andashesawhergoingtothebookshelf，hecontinued，withdiffidence:“AsregyardsthatEMMAbook，yu’see——yu’see，thedoin’sandsayin’soffolkslikethemareaboveme。ButIthink“hespokemostdiffidently，“ifyu’couldreadmesomethingthatwasABOUTsomething，I——I’dbeliabletokeepawake。“Andhesmiledwithacertainshyness。
“SomethingABOUTsomething？“queriedMolly，ataloss。
“Why，yes。Shakespeare。HENRYTHEFOURTH。TheBritishkingisfighting，andthereishissontheprince。Hecert’nlymusthavebeenajim-dandyboyifthatisalltrue。Onlyhewouldgoaroundtownwithamightytriflin’gang。Theysportedandtheyheldupcitizens。Andhisfatherhatedhistravellingwithtrashlikethem。Itwasrightnatural——theboyandtheoldman！Buttheboyshowedhimselfamantoo。Hekilledabigfighterontheothersidewhowasanotherjim-dandy——andhewassorryforhavingittodo。“TheVirginianwarmedtohisrecital。“Iunderstandmostallofthat。Therewasafatmankepteverybodylaughing。Hewasawfulnaturaltoo；exceptyu’don’tcommonlymeet’emsofat。Buttheprince——thatplayisbed-rock，ma’am！Haveyougotsomethinglikethat？“
“Yes，Ithinkso，“shereplied。“IbelieveIseewhatyouwouldappreciate。“
ShetookherBrowning，heridol，herimaginedaffinity。ForthepaledecadenceofNewEnglandhadsomewhatwateredhergoodoldRevolutionarybloodtoo，andshewasinclinedtothinkunderglassandtoliveunderdone——whentherewerenoIndianstoshoot！
Shewouldhavejoyedtoventure“Paracelsus“onhim，andsomelengthyrhymeddiscourses；andshefondlyturnedleavesandleavesofherpetdoggerelanalytics。“PippaPasses“andothersshehadtoskip，fromdiscreetmotives——pageswhichhewouldhavedoubtlessstayedawakeat；butshechoseapoematlength。ThiswasbetterthanEmma，hepronounced。Andshort。Thehorsewasagoodhorse。Hethoughtamanwhosehorsemustnotplayoutonhimwouldwatchthegroundhewasgallopingoverforholes，andnotbelikelytoseewhatcolortherimsofhisanimal’seye-socketswere。Youcouldnotseethemifyousatasyououghttoforsuchahardride。Ofthenextpiecethatshereadhimhethoughtstillbetter。“Anditisshort，“saidhe。“Butthelastpartdrops。“
Mollyinstantlyexactedparticulars。
“Thesoldiershouldnothavetoldthegeneralhewaskilled，“
statedthecow-puncher。
“Whatshouldhehavetoldhim，I’dliketoknow？“saidMolly。
“Why，justnothing。Ifthesoldiercouldrideoutofthebattleallshotup，andtellhisgeneralabouttheirtakin’thetown——thatwasbeinggritty，yu’see。Butthattruckatthefinish——willyu’pleasesayitagain？“
SoMollyread:——
“’You’rewounded！’Nay，’thesoldier’sprideTouchedtothequick，hesaid，’I’mkilled，sire！’And，hischiefbeside，Smilingtheboyfelldead。“
“’Nay，I’mkilled，sire，’“drawledtheVirginian，amiably；forsymptomofconvalescencehisfreakishironywasrevivedinhim。
“Nowamanwhowasmanenoughtoactlikehedid，yu’see，wouldfalldeadwithoutmentioningit。“
NoneofMolly’ssweetgirlfriendshadeverthuschallengedMr。
Browning。Theyhadbeenwonttoclusteroverhimwithajoyousawethatdeepenedproportionallywiththeirmisunderstanding。
Mollypausedtoconsiderthisnoveltyofviewaboutthesoldier。
“HewasaFrenchman，youknow，“shesaid，underinspiration。
“AFrenchman，“murmuredthegravecowpuncher。“IneverknowedaFrenchman，butIreckontheymightperformthatclassoffoolishness。“
“Butwhywasitfoolish？“shecried。
“Hissoldier’spride——don’tyousee？“
“No。“
Mollynowburstintoaluxuryofdiscussion。Sheleanedtowardhercow-puncherwithbrighteyessearchinghis；withelbowonkneeandhandproppingchin，herlapbecameaslant，andfromitBrowningthepoetslidandtoppled，andlayunrescued。Fortheslowcow-puncherunfoldedhisnotionsofmasculinecourageandmodestythoughhedidnotdealinsuchhigh-soundingnames，andMollyforgoteverythingtolistentohim，asheforgothimselfandhisinveterateshynessandgrewtalkativetoher。“Iwouldneverhavesupposedthat！“shewouldexclaimassheheardhim；