rnally. The fever burned so long. Every
morsel you eat is measured and cooked in sterilized vessels, and I'd be
scared of my life to have the girl undertake it."

"Why she is doing it straight along now! She and Granny! Molly isn't out
of Doctor Harmon's sight long enough to cook anything. Granny says there
is 'a lot of buncombe about what they do, and she is going to tell them
so right to their teeth some of these days, if they badger her much
more,' and I wish she would, and you, too."

The Harvester gathered the Girl to him in one crushing bear hug.

"For the love of Heaven, Ruth, you drive me crazy! Answer me just one
question. When you told me that you 'adored and worshipped' Doctor
Harmon, did you mean it, or was that the delirium of fever?"

"I don't know WHAT I told you! If I said I 'adored' him, it was the
truth. I did! I do! I always will! So do I adore the Almighty, but
that's no sign I want him to read poetry to me, and be around all the
time when I am wild for a minute with you. I can worship Doctor Harmon
in Chicago or Onabasha quite as well. Fire him! If you don't, I will!"

"Good Lord!" cried the Harvester, helpless until the Girl had to cling
to him to prevent rolling from his nerveless arms. "Ruth, Ruth, will you
feel my pulse?"

"No, I won't! But you are going to drop me. Take me straight back to my
beautiful new bed, and send them away."

"A minute! Give me a minute!" gasped the Harvester. "I couldn't lift a
baby just now. Ruth, dear, I thought you LOVED the man."

"What made you think so?"

"You did!"

"I didn't either! I never said I loved him. I said I was under
obligations to him; but they are as well repaid as they ever can be. I
said I adored him, and I tell you I do! Give him what we owe him, both
of us, in money, and send them away. If you'd seen as much of them as I
have, you'd be tired of them, too. Please, please, David!"

"Yes," said the Harvester, arising in a sudden tide of effulgent joy.
"Yes, Girl, just as quickly as I can with decency. I----I'll send them
on the lake, and I'll take care of you."

"You won't read poetry to me?"

"I will not."

"You won't moon at me?"

"No!"

"Then hurry! But have them take your boat. I am going to have the first
ride in mine."

"Indeed you are, and soon, too!" said the Harvester, marching up the
hill as if he were leading hosts to battle.

He laid the Girl on the bed and covered her, and called Granny Moreland
to sit beside her