a few minutes. He went into the gold garden and
proposed that the doctor and the nurse go rowing until supper time, and
they went with alacrity. When they started he returned to the Girl and,
sitting beside her, he told Granny to take a nap. Then he began to talk
softly all about wild music, and how it was made, and what the different
odours sweeping down the hill were, and when the red leaves would come,
and the nuts rattle down, and the frost fairies enamel the windows, and
soon she was sound asleep. Granny came back, and the Harvester walked
around the lake shore to be alone a while and think quietly, for he was
almost too dazed and bewildered for full realization.

As he softly followed the foot path he heard voices, and looking down,
he saw the boat lying in the shade and beneath a big tree on the bank
sat the doctor and the nurse. His arm was around her, and her head was
on his shoulder; and she said very distinctly, "How long will it be
until we can go without offending him?"

CHAPTER XIX. A VERTICAL SPINE

By middle September the last trace of illness had been removed from the
premises, and it was rapidly disappearing from the face and form of the
Girl. She was showing a beautiful roundness, there was lovely colour on
her cheeks and lips, and in her dark eyes sparkled a touch of mischief.
Rigidly she followed the rules laid down for diet and exercise, and as
strength flowed through her body, and no trace of pain tormented her,
she began revelling in new and delightful sensations. She loved to pull
her boat as she willed, drive over the wood road, study the books,
cook the new dishes, rearrange furniture, and go with the Harvester
everywhere.

But that was greatly the management of the man. He was so afraid that
something might happen to undo all the wonders accomplished in the Girl,
and again whiten her face with pain, that he scarcely allowed her out of
his sight. He remained in the cabin, helping when she worked, and then
drove with her and a big blanket to the woods, arranged her chair and
table, found some attractive subject, and while the wind ravelled her
hair and flushed her cheeks, her fingers drew designs. At noon they
went to the cabin to lunch, and the Girl took a nap, while the Harvester
spread his morning's reaping on the shelves to dry. They returned to
the woods until five o'clock; then home again and the Girl dressed
and prepared supper, while the Harvester spread his stores and fed the