Jeffwrotebackthathehadbeensufferingwithasevereattackoferysipelas——hedecideduponerysipelasforthetimebeing，buthemeanttoletWestoverknowlaterthathehadbeeninarow——andthedoctorwouldnotlethimgooutyet。Hepromisedtocomeinassoonashepossiblycould。IfWestoverthoughtJacksonoughttobegothomeatonce，andwasnotfittotravelalone，heaskedhimtosendahospitalnursewithhim。
WestoverrepliedbyJeff’smessengerthatitwouldworryandalarmJacksontobeputinchargeofanurse；butthathewouldgohomewithhim，andtheywouldstartthenextday。HeurgedJefftocomeandseehisbrotherifitwasatallsafeforhimtodoso。Butifhecouldnot，Westoverwouldgivehismotherareassuringreasonforhisfailure。
Mrs。DurgindidnotwasteanyanxietyforthesicknesswhichpreventedJefffromcominghomewithhisbrother。Shesaidironicallythatitmustbeverybad，andshegaveallherthoughtandcaretoJackson。Thesickmanrallied，asheprophesiedheshould，inhisnativeair，andcelebratedthesenseandscienceofthelastdoctorhehadseeninEurope，whotoldhimthathehadmadeagreatgain，buthehadbetterhurryhomeasfastashecould，forhehadgotalltheadvantagehecouldexpecttohavefromhisstayabroad，andnowhomeairwasthebestthingforhim。
Itcouldnotbeknownhowmuchofthishebelieved；hehad，atanyrate，thepathetichopefulnessofhismalady；buthismotherbelieveditall，andshenursedhimwithafaithinhisrecoverywhichWhitwellconfidedtoWestoverwasaboutasmuchashewantedtosee，foronewhile。Sheseemedtogrowyoungerinthecareofhim，andtogetbacktoherself，moreandmore，fromthefactsofJeff’sbehavior，whichhadagedandbrokenher。ShehadtotellJacksonaboutitall，buthetookitwiththatindifferencetothethingsofthisworldwhichtheapproachofdeathsometimesbrings，andinthelightofhispassivityitnolongerseemedtohersoverybad。ItwasarelieftohaveJacksonsay，Well，perhapsitwasforthebest；anditwasacomforttoseehowheandCynthiatooktoeachother；itwasalmostasifthatdreadfultroublehadnotbeen。
ShetoldJacksonwhathardworkshehadhadtomakeCynthiastaywithher，andhowthegirlhadconsentedtostayonlyuntilJeffcamehome；
butsheguessed，nowthatJacksonhadgotback，hecouldmakeCynthiaseeitallinanotherlight，andperhapsitwouldallcomerightagain。SheconsultedhimaboutJeff’splanofgoingabroad，andJacksonsaiditmightbeaboutaswell；heshouldsoonbearound，andhethoughtifJeffwentitwouldgiveCynthiamoreofachancetogetreconciled。Afterall，hismothersuggested，agoodmanyfellowsbehavedworsethanJeffhaddoneandstillhadmadeitupwiththegirlstheywereengagedto；
andJacksongentlyassented。
HedidnottalkwithCynthiaaboutJeff，outofthatdelicacy，orthatcoldness，commontothemboth。Perhapsitwasnotnecessaryforthemtospeakofhim；perhapstheyunderstoodhimarightintheirunderstandingofeachother。
Westoverstayedon，dayafterday，thinkingsomehowthatheoughttowaittillJeffcame。Therewereonlyafewotherpeopleinthehotel，andthesewereofaquietsort；theywerenotsaddenedbythepresenceofadoomedmanunderthesameroof，asgayersummerfolksmighthavebeen，andtheywerethemselvesnodisturbancetohim。
Hesataboutwiththemontheveranda，andhemadefriendsamongthem，andtheydidwhattheycouldtoencourageandconsolehiminhisimpatiencetotakeuphisoldcaresinthemanagementofthehotel。TheWhitwellseasilylookedafterthewelfareoftheguests，andJacksonwassomuchbettertoeveryone’sperceptionthatWestovercouldhonestlywriteJeffagoodreportofhim。
ThereportmayhavebeensogoodthatJefftooktheaffairtooeasily。
ItwasafortnightafterJackson’sreturntoLion’sHeadwhenhebegantofailsosuddenlyandalarminglythatWestoverdecideduponhisownresponsibilitytotelegraphJeffofhiscondition。ButhehadthesatisfactionofWhitwell’sapprovalwhenhetoldhimwhathehaddone。
\"Ofcourse，Jacksona’n’tlongforthisworld。Anybodybuthimandhismothercouldseethat；andnowhe’sjustmeltingaway，asyoumightsay。
Iha’n’tlikedhisnotcarin’toworkplantchettesincehegotback；
lookedtomefromthestartthathekindofknowedthatitwa’n’tworthwhileforhimtotroubleaboutaworldthathe’llknowallaboutsosoon，anyways；andd’younoticehedon’tseemtocareaboutMars，either？
I’vetriedtowakehimuponittwo—threetimes，butyoucan’tgithimtotakeaninterest。IguessJeffcan’tgithereanytoosoononJackson’saccount；butasfarforthasIgo，hecouldn’tgitheretoolate。I
shouldliketotakethetopofhisheadoff。\"
WestoverhadbeeninWhitwell’sconfidencesincetheirfirstchanceofspeechtogether。Henowsaid：
\"Iknowitwillberatherpainfultoyoutohavehimhereforsomereasons，but——\"
\"YoumeanCynthy？Well！IguesswhenCynthycan’tgetalongwiththesightofJeffDurgin，she’llbeadifferentgirlfromwhatshe’severbeenbefore。Ifshe’sgottoseethatskunkag’in，Iguessthisisaboutthebesttimetodoit。\"
ItwasWestoverwhodrovetomeetJeffatthestation，whenhegothisdespatch，namingthetrainhewouldtake，andhefoundhimlookingverywell，andperhapsstouterthanhehadbeen。
Theyleftthestationinsilence，aftertheirgreetingandJeff’sinquiriesaboutJackson。Jeffhadtakenthereins，andnowheputthemwiththewhipinonehand，andpusheduphishatwiththeother，andturnedhisfacefulluponWestover。\"Noticeanythinginparticular？\"hedemanded。
\"No；yes——someslightmarks。\"
\"Iguessthatfellowfixedmeupprettywell：paintsblackeyes，andthatkindofthing。Igottoscrappingwithaman，ClassDay；wewantedtosettlealittlebusinesswebeganattheTree，andhelefthismarksonme。ImeanttotellyouthetruthassoonasIcouldgetatyou；butI
hadtosayerysipelasinmyletter。Iguess，ifyoudon’tmind，we’llleterysipelasstand，withtherest。\"
\"Ishouldn’thavecared，\"Westoversaid，\"ifyou’dletitstandwithme。\"
\"Oh，thankyou，\"Jeffreturned。
TherecouldhavebeennoshowofaffectionathismeetingwithJacksoneveniftherehadbeenanyfactofit；thatwasnotthelawoftheirlife。ButJeffhadalwaysbeenaturbulent，rebellious，youngerbrother，resentfulofJackson’scontrol，toomuchhisjuniortohavetheassociationsofanequalcompanionshipinthepast，andyettoonearhiminagetohaveanythinglikeafilialregardforhim。Theyshookhands，andeachaskedtheotherhowhewas，andthentheyseemedtohavedonewitheachother。Jeff’smotherkissedhiminadditiontothehandshaking，butmadehimfeelherpreoccupationwithJackson；sheaskedhimifhehadhurriedhomeonJackson’saccount，andhepromptlyliedheroutofthisanxiety。
HeshookhandswithCynthia，too，butitwasacrossthebarrierwhichhadnotbeenloweredbetweenthemsincetheyparted。HespoketoJacksonabouther，thedayafterhecamehome，whenJacksonsaidhewasfeelingunusuallystrongandwell，andthetwobrothershadstrolledoutthroughtheorchardtogether。Nowandthenhegavethesickmanhisarm，andwhenhewantedtositdowninasunnyplacehespreadtheshawlhecarriedforhim。
\"Isupposemother’stoldyouaboutCynthyandme，Jackson？\"hebegan。
Jacksonanswered，withlack—lustreeyes，\"Yes。\"Presentlyheasked：
\"What’sbecomeoftheothergirl？\"
\"Damnher！Idon’tknowwhat’sbecomeofher，andIdon’tcare！\"Jeffexploded，furiously。
\"Thenyoudon’tcareforheranymore？\"Jacksonpursued，withthesamelanguidcalm。
\"Inevercaredforher。\"
Jacksonwassilent，andthematterseemedtohavefadedoutofhismind。
ButitwaskeenlyaliveinJeff’smind，andhewasinthestrangenecessitywhichmenintheflushoflifeandhealthoftenfeelofseekingcounselofthosewhostandinthepresenceofdeath，asiftheirwordsshouldhavesomethingofthemysticalauthorityoftheunknownwisdomtheyareabouttopenetrate。
\"WhatIwanttoknowis，whatIamgoingtodoaboutCynthy？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"Jacksonanswered，vaguely，andheexpressedbyhisindirectionthesensehemustsometimeshavehadofhisimpendingfate——
\"Idon’tknowwhatshe’sgoingtodo，herormother，either。\"
\"Yes，\"Jeffassented，\"that’swhatIthinkof。AndI’ddoanythingthatIcould——thatyouthoughtwasright。\"
Jacksonapparentlyconcentratedhisminduponthequestionbyaneffort。
\"DoyoucareasmuchforCynthyasyouusedto？\"
\"Yes，\"saidJeff，afteramoment，\"asmuchasIeverdid；andmore。ButI’vebeenthinking，sincethethinghappened，that，ifI’dcaredforherthewayshedidforme，itwouldn’thavehappened。Lookhere，Jackson！
YouknowI’veneverpretendedtobelikesomemen——likeMr。Westover，forexample——alwayslookingoutfortherightandthewrong，andallthat。Ididn’tmakemyself，andIguessiftheAlmightydon’tmakemegorightit’sbecauseHedon’twantmeto。ButIhavegotaconscienceaboutCynthy，andI’dbewillingtohelpoutalittleifIknewhow，abouther。Thedevilofitis，I’vegottobeingafraid。Idon’tmeanthatI’mnotfitforher；anyman’sfitforanywomanifhewantsherbadenough；butI’mafraidIsha’n’tevercareforherintherightway。
That’sthepoint。I’vecaredforjustonewomaninthisworld，andita’n’tCynthy，asfarasIcanmakeout。Butshe’sgone，andIguessI
couldcoaxCynthyroundagain，andIcouldbewhatshewantsmetobe，afterthis。\"
Jacksonlayuponhisshawl，lookingupattheskyfullofislandsofwarmcloudsinitsseaofblue；hewassilentsolongthatJeffbegantothinkhehadnotbeenlistening；hecouldnothearhimbreathe，andhecameforwardtohimquicklyfromtheshadowofthetreewherehesat。
\"Well？\"Jacksonwhispered，turninghiseyesuponhim。
\"Well？\"Jeffreturned。
\"Iguessyou’dbetterletitalone，\"saidJackson。
\"Allright。That’swhatIthink，too。\"
XLIX。
Jacksondiedaweeklater，andtheyburiedhimintheoldfamilylotinthefarthestcorneroftheorchard。HismotherandCynthiaputonmourningforhim，andtheystoodtogetherbyhisopengrave，Mrs。Durginleaninguponherson’sarmandthegirluponherfather’s。Thewomenweptquietly，butJeff’seyesweredry，thoughhisfacewasdischargedofallitsprepotentimpudence。Westover，standingacrossthegravefromhim，noticedthemarksonhisforeheadthathesaidwerefromhisscrapping，andwonderedwhatreallymadethem。Herecognizedthespotwheretheywerestandingasthatwheretheboyhadobeyedthelawofhisnatureandrevengedthestressputuponhimforrighteousness。OverthestoneofthenearestgraveJeffhadshownafaceoftriumphantderisionwhenhepeltedWestoverwithapples。Thepainter’smindfellintoachaosofconjectureandmisgiving，sothathescarcelytookinthewordsofthecompositeservicewhichtheministerfromtheUnionChapelattheHuddlereadoverthedead。
Someoftheguestsfromthehotelcametothefuneral，butotherswhowerenotingoodhealthremainedaway，andtherewasageneralsenseamongthem，whichimparteditselftoWestover，thatJackson’sdyingso，atthebeginningoftheseason，wasnotafortunateincident。AshesattalkingwithJeffatacornerofthepiazzalateintheafternoon，FrankWhitwellcameuptothemandsaidthereweresomepeopleintheofficewhohaddrivenoverfromanotherhoteltoseeaboutboard，buttheyhadheardtherewassicknessinthehouse，andwishedtotalkwithhim。
\"Iwon’tcome，\"saidJeff。
\"They’renotsatisfiedwithwhatI’vesaid，\"theboyurged。\"WhatshallItellthem？\"
\"Tellthemto—gotothedevil，\"saidJeff，andwhenFrankWhitwellmadeoffwiththismessagefordeliveryinsuchdecenttermsashecouldimagineforit，Jeffsaid，rathertohimselfthantoWestover，\"Idon’tseehowwe’regoingtorunthishotelwiththatoldfamilylotdownthereintheorchardmuchlonger。\"
HeassumedtheairoffullauthorityatLion’sHead；andWestoverfeltthestressofapainfulconjectureinregardtotheWhitwellsintensifieduponhimfromthemomentheturnedawayfromJackson’sgrave。
CynthiaandherfatherhadgonebacktotheirownhouseassoonasJeffreturned，andthoughthegirlcamehomewithMrs。Durginafterthefuneral，andhelpedherintheircommondutiesthroughtheafternoonandevening，Westoversawhertakingherwaydownthehillwithherbrotherwhenthelongday’sworkwasover。Jeffsawhertoo；hewassittingwithWestoverattheofficedoorsmoking，andhewastalkingoftheWhitwells。
\"Isupposetheywon’tstay，\"hesaid，\"andIcan’texpectit；butIdon’tknowwhatmotherwilldo，exactly。\"
AtthesamemomentWhitwellcameroundthecornerofthehotelfromthebarn，andapproachedthem：\"Jeff，IguessIbettertellyoustraightoffthatwe’regoin’，thechildrenandme。\"
\"Allright，Mr。Whitwell，\"saidJeff，withrespectfulgravity；\"Iwasafraidofit。\"
Westovermadeamotiontorise，butWhitwelllaidadetaininghanduponhisknee。\"Thereain’tanythingsoprivateaboutit，sofarasIknow。\"
\"Don’tgo，Mr。Westover，\"saidJeff，andWestoverremained。
\"Wea’n’ta—goin’toleaveyouinthelurch，andwewantyoushouldtakeyourtime，especiallyMis’Durgin。Butthesoonerthebetter。Heigh？\"
\"Yes，Iunderstandthat，Mr。Whitwell；Iguessmotherwillmissyou，butifyoumustgo，youmust。\"Thetwomenremainedsilentamoment，andthenJeffbrokeoutpassionately，risingandflinginghiscigaraway：
\"IwishIcouldgo，instead！Thatwouldbetherightway，andIguessmotherwouldlikeitfullaswell。Doyouseeanywaytomanageit？
\"Heputhisfootupinhischair，anddroppedhiselbowonhisknee，withhischinproppedinhishand。Westovercouldseethathemeantwhathewassaying。\"Iftherewasanyway，I’ddoit。Iknowwhatyouthinkofme，andIshouldbejustlikeyou，inyourplace。Idon’tfeelrighttoturnyououthere，Idon’t，Mr。Whitwell，andyetifIstay，I’vegottodoit。What’sthereasonIcan’tgo？\"
\"Youcan’t，\"saidWhitwell，\"andthat’sallaboutit。Weshouldn’tletyou，ifyoucould。ButIa’n’tsurprisedyoufeelthewayyoudo，\"headded，unsparingly。\"Asyousay，IshouldfeeljustsomyselfifIwasinyourplace。Well，goodnight，Mr。Westover。\"
Whitwellturnedandsloucheddownthehill，leavingthepaintertothemostpainfulmomenthehadknownwithJeffDurgin，andnearersympathy。
\"That’sallright，Mr。Westover，\"Jeffsaid，\"Idon’tblamehim。\"
HeremainedinaconstraintfromwhichhepresentlybrokewithmockinghilaritywhenJombateestecameroundthecornerofthehouse，asifhehadbeenwaitingforWhitwelltobegone，andtoldJeffhemustgetsomebodyelsetolookafterthehorses。
\"Whydon’tyouwaitandtakethehorseswithyou，Jombateeste？\"
heinquired。\"They’llbehandingintheirresignation，thenextthing。
Whynotgoaltogether？\"
ThelittleCanuckpaused，asifuncertainwhetherhewasmadetheobjectofunfriendlyderisionornot，andlookedatWestoverforhelp。
Apparentlyhedecidedtochanceitinasbitterananswerashecouldinvent。\"The’osscan’t’elp’imself，Mr。Durgin。’Estay。Butyoudon’hownEVERYBODY。\"
\"That’sso，Jombateeste，\"saidJeff。\"That’sagoodhit。Itmakesmefeelawfully。Haveacigar？\"TheCanuckdeclinedwithadignifiedbow，andJeffsaid：\"Youdon’tsmokeanymore？Oh，Isee！It’smytobaccoyou’redownon。What’sthematter，Jombateeste？Whatareyougoingawayfor？\"JefflightedforhimselfthecigartheCanuckhadrefused，andsmokeddownuponthelittleman。
\"Mr。W’itwellgoin’，\"Jombateestesaid，alittleconfusedanddaunted。
\"What’sMr。Whitwellgoingfor？\"
\"YouhaskMr。W’itwell。\"
\"Allright。AndifIcangethimtostaywillyoustaytoo，Jombateeste？
Idon’tliketoseearatleavingaship；theship’ssuretosink，ifhedoes。HowdoyousupposeI’mgoingtorunLion’sHeadwithoutyoutothrowdownhaytothehorses？Itwillberuintome，sure，Jombateeste。
Alltheguestsknowhowyouplayonthepitchforkoutthere，andthey’llleaveinabodyiftheyhearyou’vequit。Dosayyou’llstay，andI’llreduceyourwagesone—halfonthespot。\"
Jombateestewaitedtohearnomoreinjuries。Hesaid：\"You’lldon’gotmoneyenough，Mr。Durgin，bygosh！toreducemywages，\"andhestarteddownthehilltowardWhitwell’shousewithasgreatloftinessascouldcomportwithadown—hillgaitandhisstature。
\"Well，Iseemtobegettingitallround，Mr。Westover，\"saidJeff。
\"Thismustmakeyoufeelgood。Idon’tknowbutIbegintobelievethere’saGodinIsrael，myself。\"
Hewalkedawaywithoutsayinggood—night，andWestoverwenttobedwithoutthechanceofsettinghimselfright。Inthemorning，whenhecamedowntobreakfast，andstoppedatthedesktoengageaconveyanceforthestationfromFrankWhitwelltheboyforestalledhimwithagraveface。\"Youdon’tknowaboutMrs。Durgin？\"
\"No；whatabouther？\"
\"Well，wecan’ttellexactly。Fatherthinksit’sashock；JombateestegoneovertoLovewellforthedoctor。Cynthia’swithher。Itseemedtocomeoninthenight。\"
Hespokesoftly，thatnooneelsemighthear；butbynoonthefactthatMrs。Durginhadbeenstrickenwithparalysiswasallovertheplace。ThegloomcastupontheopeningseasonbyJackson’sdeathwasdeepenedamongtheguests。SomewhohadtalkedofstayingthroughJulywentawaythatday。ButunderCynthia’smanagementthehousekeepingwasreallyunaffectedbyMrs。Durgin’scalamity，andthepeoplewhostayedfoundthemselvesascomfortableasever。Jeffcamefullyintothehotelmanagement，andintheirbusinessrelationCynthiaandhewerecontinuallytogether；therewasnolongeraquestionoftheWhitwellsleavinghim；evenJombateestepersuadedhimselftostay，andWestoverfeltobligedtoremainatleasttillthepresentdangerinMrs。Durgin’scasewaspast。
Withthefirstreturnofphysicalstrength，Mrs。Durginwasimpatienttobeseenaboutthehouse，andtoretrievetheseasonthatherafflictionhadmadesolargelyaloss。Thepeoplewhohadbecomeaccustomedtoitstayedon，andthehousefilledupasshegrewbetter，buteventhesightofherinawheeledchairdidnotbringbacktheprosperityofotheryears。Shelamentedoveritwithakeenandfullperceptionofthefact，butinacloudyassociationofitwiththejointfutureofJeffandCynthia。
Oneday，afterMrs。Durginhaddeclaredthatshedidnotknowwhattheyweretodo，ifthingskeptonastheyweregoing，Whitwellaskedhisdaughter：
\"DoyousupposeshethinksyouandJeffhavemadeitupagain？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidthegirl，withatroubledvoice，\"andIdon’tknowwhattodoaboutit。Itdon’tseemasifIcouldtellher，andyetit’swrongtolethergoon。\"
\"Whydidn’thetellher？\"demandedherfather。\"’Ta’n’tfairhisleavin’
ittoyou。Butit’slikehim。\"
Thesickwoman’sholduponthefactweakenedmostwhenshewastired。
Whenshewasbetter，sheknewhowitwaswiththem。CommonlyitwaswhenCynthiahadgothertobedforthenightthatshesentforJeff，andwishedtoaskhimwhathewasgoingtodo。\"Youcan’texpectCynthytostayhereanotherwinterhelpin’you，withJacksonaway。You’vegottoeithertakeherwithyou，orelsecomehereyourself。Giveupyourlastyearincollege，whydon’tyou？Idon’twantyoushouldstay，andI
don’tknowwhodoes。IfIwasinCynthia’splace，I’dletyouworkoffyourownconditions，nowyou’vegiveupthelaw。She’llkillherself，tryin’tokeepyoualong。\"
SometimesherspeechbecamesoindistinctthatnoonebutCynthiacouldmakeitout；andJeff，listeningwithafaceasnearlydischargedasmightbeofitslaughingirony，hadtoturntoCynthiaforthewordwhichnooneelsecouldcatch，andwhichthestrickenwomanremaineddistressfullywaitingforhertorepeattohim，withheranxiouseyesuponthegirl’sface。Hewasdutifullypatientwithallhismother’swhims。Hecamewhenevershesentforhim，andsatquietundertheseveritieswithwhichshevisitedallhispastunworthiness。\"Whoyoubeenhectorin’now，Ishouldliketoknow，\"shebeganonhimoneeveningwhenhecameathersummons。\"BetweenyouandFox，Igotnopeaceofmylife。Whereisthedog？\"
\"Foxisallright，mother，\"Jeffresponded。\"You’refeelingalittlebetterto—night，a’n’tyou？\"
\"Idon’tknow；Ican’ttell，\"shereturned，withagleamofintelligenceinhereye。Thenshesaid：\"Idon’tseewhyI’mlefttostrangersallthetime。\"
\"Youdon’tcallCynthiaastranger，doyou，mother？\"heasked，coaxingly。
\"Oh——Cynthy！\"saidMrs。Durgin，withaglanceasofsurpriseatseeingher。\"No，Cynthy’sallright。Butwhere’sJacksonandyourfather？IfI’vetoldthemnottobeoutinthedewonce，I’vetold’emahundredtimes。Cynthy’dbetterlookafterherhousekeepin’ifshedon’twantthewholeplacetorunbehind，andnotasoulleftinthehouse。Whattimeo’yearisitnow？\"shesuddenlyasked，afteralittlewearypause。
\"It’sthelastofAugust，mother。\"
\"Oh，\"shesighed，\"Ithoughtitwasthebeginnin’ofMay。Didn’tyoucomeuphereinMay？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，then——Or，mebbethat’soneo’themtormentin’dreams；theydopesterso！Whatdidyoucomefor？\"
JeffwassittingononesideofherbedandCynthiaontheother：Shewaslookingatthesufferer’sface，andshedidnotmeettheglanceofamusementwhichJeffturneduponheratbeingsofairlycornered。\"Well，Idon’tknow，\"hesaid。\"Ithoughtyoumightliketoseeme。\"
\"What’dhecomefor？\"——thesickwomanturnedtoCynthia。
\"You’dbettertellher，\"saidthegirl，coldly，toJeff。\"Shewon’tbesatisfiedtillyoudo。She’llkeepcomingbacktoit。\"
\"Well，mother，\"saidJeff，stillwithsomethingofhishardyamusement，\"Ihadn’tbeenactingjustright，andIthoughtI’dbettertellCynthy。\"
\"Youbetterletthechildalone。IfIevercatchyouteasin’themchildrenagain，I’llmakeJacksonshootFox。\"