ady got her quiet at last; and, as I said before, it's all right,
and we'll pull her through. But don't YOU thank us: it's a little matter
betwixt us and Mornie. We've got everything fixed, so that Mrs. Sol can
stay right along. We'll pull Mornie through, and get her away from this,
and her baby too, as soon as we can. You won't get mad if I tell you
something?" said Sol, with a half-apologetic laugh. "Mrs. Sol was
rather down on you the other day, hated you on sight, and preferred
your brother to you; but when she found he'd run off and left YOU,
you,--don't mind my sayin',--a 'mere boy,' to take what oughter be
HIS place, why, she just wheeled round agin' him. I suppose he
got flustered, and couldn't face the music. Never left a word of
explanation? Well, it wasn't exactly square, though I tell the old woman
it's human nature. He might have dropped a hint where he was goin'.
Well, there, I won't say a word more agin' him. I know how you feel.
Hush it is."

It was the firm conviction of the simple-minded Sol that no one knew
the various natural indications of human passion better than himself.
Perhaps it was one of the fallacies of his profession that the
expression of all human passion was limited to certain conventional
signs and sounds. Consequently, when Rand colored violently, became
confused, stammered, and at last turned hastily away, the good-hearted
fellow instantly recognized the unfailing evidence of modesty and
innocence embarrassed by recognition. As for Rand, I fear his shame
was only momentary. Confirmed in the belief of his ulterior wisdom and
virtue, his first embarrassment over, he was not displeased with this
halfway tribute, and really believed that the time would come when
Mr. Sol should eventually praise his sagacity and reservation,
and acknowledge that he was something more than a mere boy. He,
nevertheless, shrank from meeting Mornie that morning, and was glad that
the presence of Mrs. Sol relieved him from that duty.

The day passed uneventfully. Rand busied himself in his usual
avocations, and constructed a temporary shelter for himself and Sol
beside the shaft, besides rudely shaping a few necessary articles of
furniture for Mrs. Sol.

"It will be a little spell yet afore Mornie's able to be moved,"
suggested Sol, "and you might as well be comfortable."

Rand sighed at this prospect, yet presently forgot himself in the
good humor of his companion, whose admiration for himself he began to