aciously and gladly."

"What do you mean, Ruth?" stammered the Harvester.

"Oh they have worn themselves out!" cried the Girl impatiently. "First,
Granny Moreland told me every least little detail of how I went out, and
you resurrected me. I knew what she said was true, because she worked
with you. Then Doctor Carey told me, and Mrs. Carey, and Doctor Harmon,
and Molly, and even Granny's little assistant has left the kitchen to
tell me that I owe my life to you, and all of them might as well have
saved breath. I knew all the time that if ever I came out of this, and
had a chance to be like other women, it would be your work, and I'm glad
it is. I'd hate to be under obligations to some people I know; but I
feel honoured to be indebted to you."

"I'm mighty sorry they worried you. I had no idea----"

"They didn't 'worry,' me! I am just telling you that I knew it all the
time; that's all!"

"Forget that!" said the Harvester. "Come back to our subject. What was
it you wanted, dear?"

"To know if you have any objections to Doctor Harmon remaining in
Onabasha?"

"Certainly not! It will be a fine thing for him."

"Will it make any difference to you in any way?"

"Ruth, that's probing too deep," said the Harvester.

"I don't see why!"

"I'm glad of it!"

"Why?"

"I'd least rather show my littleness to you than to any one else on
earth."

"Then you have some feeling about it?"

"Perhaps a trifle. I'll get over it. Give me a little time to adjust
myself. Doctor Harmon shall have the place, of course. Don't worry about
that!"

"He will be so happy!"

"And you, Ruth?"

"I'll be happy too!"

"Then it's all right," said the Harvester.

He laid down her hand, drew the cover over it, and slightly shifted her
position to rest her. The door opened, and Doctor Harmon announced that
the room was ready. It was shining and fresh. The bed was now turned
with its head to the north, so that from it one could see the big
trees in Medicine Woods, the sweep of the hillside, the sparkle of
mallow-bordered Singing Water, the driveway and the gold flower
garden. Everything was so changed that the room had quite a different
appearance. The instant he laid her on it the Girl said, "This bed is
not mine."

"Yes it is," said the Harvester. "You see, we were a little excited
sometimes, and we spilled a few quarts of perfectly good medicine on
your mattress. It was hopelessly smelly and ruined; so I am going to
cremate it and