er of fever,' said I. Then Mr.
Hambleton asked me who was there, and I said, 'I don't exactly know,
but it's either Miss Redmond's maid's beau or a press agent,' and then
Mr. Hambleton called out, as quick and strong as anybody, 'Go 'way! I
think I've got smallpox.' And he went off, quicker'n a wink, and
hasn't been back since." Mrs. Stoddard's grim old face wrinkled in a
humorous smile. "I guess he'll get over his smallpox scare, but Mr.
Hambleton don't want to see him, not yet. He wants to see you."

"I'm going in to see him soon, anyway," said Agatha.

But still she waited a little before going in for her morning visit
with James. It meant so much to her! It wasn't to be taken lightly
and casually, but with a little pomp and ceremony. Each day since the
night of the crisis she had paid her morning call, and each day she had
seen new lights in Jimmy's eyes. In vain had she been matter-of-fact
and practical, treating him as an invalid whose vagaries should be
indulged even though they were of no importance. He would not accept
her on those terms. Back of his weakness had been a strength, more and
more perceptible each day, touching her with the sweetest flattery
woman ever receives. It was the strength of a lover's spirit, looking
out at her from his eyes and speaking to her in every inflection of his
voice. Moreover, while he stoutly and continuously denied his
fever-sickness, he took no trouble to conceal this other malady. As
soon as he could speak distinctly he proclaimed his spiritual madness,
though nobody but Agatha, and possibly Mrs. Stoddard, quite understood.

"I'm not sick; don't be an idiot, Hand. And give me a shave, for
Heaven's sake. Anybody can get knocked on the head--that's all the
matter with me. Give me some clothes and you'll see." Even Hand had
to give in quickly. Jimmy's resilience passed all expectations. He
came up like a rubber ball; and now, on a fine September morning, he
was getting shaved and clothed in one of Aleck's suits. Finally he was
propped up in an easy chair by a window overlooking the towering elm
tree and the white church.

"Er--Andy--couldn't you get me some kind of a tie? This soft shirt
business doesn't look very fit, does it, without a tie?" coaxed Jim.

"If you ask me, I say you look fine."

"Where'd you get all your good clothes, I'd like to know?" inquired Jim
sternly, looking at Hand's immaculate linen.

"Miss Sallie washes 'em after I go to