am to say good-bye, I have to do it in my own way, Ruth," he said.

Thereupon he began at the tumbled mass of hair and kissed from her
forehead to her lips, kisses warm and tender.

"Now you go to sleep, and grow strong enough by the time I come back to
tell me whom you love," he said, and went from the room without waiting
for any reply.

With short intervals for food and dips in the lake the Harvester very
nearly slept the week. When he finally felt himself again, he bathed,
shaved, dressed freshly, and went to see the Girl. He had to touch her
to be sure she was real. She was extremely weak and tremulous, but her
face and hands were fuller, her colour was good, she was ravenously
hungry. Doctor Harmon said she was a little tryant, and the nurse that
she was plain cross. The first thing the Harvester noticed was that the
dull blue look in the depth of the dark eyes was gone. They were clear,
dusky wells, with shining lights at the bottom.

"Well I never would have believed it!" he cried. "Doctor Harmon, you
are a great physician! You have made her all over new, and in a few more
days she will be on the veranda. This is great!"

"Do I appear so much better to you, Harvester?" asked the Girl.

"Has no one thought to show you," cried the Harvester. "Here, let me!"

He stepped to her dressing table, picked up a mirror, and held it before
her so that she could see herself.

"Seems to me I am dreadfully white and thin yet!"

"If you had seen what I saw ten days ago, my Girl, you would think you
appear like a pink, rosy angel now, or a wonderful dream."

"Truly, do I in the least resemble a dream, David?"

"You are a dream. The loveliest one a man ever had. With three months of
right care and exercise you'll be the beautiful woman nature intended.
I'm so proud of you. You are being so brave! Just lie there in patience
a few more days, and out you come again to life; and life that will
thrill your being with joy."

"All right," said the Girl, "I will. David are you attending to your
herbs?"

"Not for a few weeks."

"You are very much behind?"

"No. Nothing important. I don't make enough to count on what is ready
now. I can soon gather jimson leaves and seed to fill orders, the
hemlock is about right to take the fruit, the mustard is yet in pod, and
the saffron and wormseed can be attended later. I can catch up in two
days."

"What about----about the big bed on the hill?"

The Harvester experienced an inw