she hurt
him slightly in spite of her gentle handling. Finally Madge consented
to rest a little, providing she was not forced to leave the shack. In
the absence of other accommodation Mrs. Papineau had spread a heavy
blanket on the floor, with odds and ends of spare clothing. It was
only after the good woman had solemnly promised to awaken her in case
there was the slightest need that the girl at last lay down, feeling
dead tired but without the slightest desire to sleep, as she thought.
But it did not take a very long time before her eyes closed and she
was deep in slumber that was heavy and dreamless. Maigan came and
curled up beside her. He thoroughly approved of her.

It was only after midday that she awoke, startled, as if conscious of
having been remiss in her duty, and raised herself quickly to a
sitting posture.

"Is--is everything all right?" she asked, anxiously.

Upon being reassured she tried to lie down again, at Mrs. Papineau's
urging, but sleep refused to come. Indeed, she felt greatly rested.
And then she began to feel very hungry and had a meal of bread and
tea, with a few dried prunes. It was not a very fine repast, but Madge
was amazed to see what a lot she could eat. When she rose from the
table she felt conscious that in some way she had gained strength, in
spite of her weariness. After this she renewed the dressings again,
taking the greatest pains with them. It was getting dark when Mrs.
Papineau left her, utterly indifferent to the howling of wolves on the
distant ridges. She had offered to remain but Madge knew that her
presence was needed at home, owing to the little ones. Moreover, the
girl was getting accustomed to her weird surroundings.

In the faithful Maigan there was a protector. Besides, she still
counted among the living; she was engaged in work that called for
and brought out all her womanhood. In spite of her fears for the
man the longing for his recovery was becoming mingled with a vague
confidence, with the idea of a possibility that something might
happen that would gradually develop in some sort of promise for a
future that would not be all sorrow and toil. It was perhaps simply
a temporary forgetfulness of self when confronted with what was a
greater and stronger interest. The girl Madge had become less
important when compared to the dying man. She was merely an instrument
wherewith destiny helped to shape certain indefinite ends. Her own
turn had not yet come, and her pers