in. If I had my ch'ice of all the diseases in
the calendar, that's the one I _wouldn't_ take. Some on 'em you hev
the comfort of knowin' you'll die of 'em--if ye live long enough." He
chuckled a little. "But this one, ye can't die and ye can't get well."

"But _he_ is going to get well?" The girl's eyes held him.

"Yes, he'll be all right if he can set out in the wind a spell--and
the sun. The fever's broke. What he wants now is plenty to eat and good
company. You'll be comin' up to see us byme-by, mebbe?" He looked at her
hopefully.

"Do you think I could?"

"Well, I dunno why not. He'll be gettin' restless in a month or so.
You might as well be married up there as anywhere. We've got a good
minister--a fust-rate one."

She smiled a little wistfully. "He won't have me," she said.

"Shucks!" said Uncle William. "You come up, and if he don't marry you, I
will."

A bell sounded somewhere. She started. "I must go." A thought crossed
her face. "I wonder if you would like it--the recital?" She was looking
at him, an amused question in her eyes.

"Is it speaking pieces?" said Uncle William, cautiously.

"Playing them, and singing--one or two. It's a musicale, you know. You
might like it--" She was still thinking, her forehead a little wrinkled.
"They are nice girls and--Oh--?" the forehead suddenly lifted, "you
_would_ like it. There are sea-pieces--MacDowell's. They're just the
thing.--" She held him hospitably.--"Do come. You would be sure to enjoy
it."

"Like enough," said Uncle William. "It takes all kinds of singing to
make a world. I might like 'em fust-rate. And it won't take long?"

"No--only an hour or two. You can leave _him_, can't you?" The pretty
forehead had wrinkled again.

"Easy as not," said Uncle William. "Best thing for him. He'll have a
chance to miss me a little."

She smiled at him reproachfully. "We'll have to hurry, I'm afraid. It's
only a step. But we ought to go at once."

Uncle William followed in her wake, admiring the quick, lithe movements
of the tall figure. Now that the flower-like face was turned away, she
seemed larger, more vigorous. "A reg'lar clipper, and built for all
kinds of weather," said Uncle William as he followed fast. "I wouldn't
be afraid to trust her anywheres. She'd reef down quick in a blow." He
chuckled to himself.

She looked around. "Here we are."

XIV

They had paused at the foot of a flight of stairs. Down the narrow
hall-way floated a mingled