s as clean as rifle-balls. "O! yes," was
one of his replies, "I know that with even nothing left but the
experiences, I'm a whole world richer, in things that make a real
manhood and life, than when I was land-poor with my hundred thousand
acres. As far as _I_ am concerned, I can afford to deny myself all the
reprisals, and revenges too, that litigations could ever give me. I've
got sixty acres of Widewood to begin over with--By Jo'! Garnet, himself,
began with less!" He let go a feverish laugh.

"If I come to that," he added, "I've got, besides, a love of study and a
talent for teaching, two things he never had." Fair asked a question and
he laughed again. "O! no, it was only a passing thought. If anybody
'busts Rosemont wide open' it'll have to be Leggett. O! no, I----" He
played with his spoon.

Fair's response must have been complimentary. "Thank you," said March;
"why, thank you!" Then the visitor spoke again and the convalescent
replied:

"Ah! a 'diligent and vigilant patience'--yes, I don't doubt it would
serve me best--provided, my dear sir, it didn't turn out simply a virtue
of impotency; or, worse yet, what I once heard called 'the thrifty
discretion of a short-winded courage!'"

When Fair responded this time March let him speak long. Johanna bent her
ear anxiously. Her patient seemed to be neglecting his food; but as he
began to reply she resumed her needle.

"Fair," she heard him say, "--why--why, Fair, that's a mighty handsome
offer to come from such a prudent business man as you. My George! sir,
men don't often put such valuable freight into a boat that's aground.
Why--why, you spoil my talk; I positively don't know what--what to say!"
There was a choke in his voice. Fair made some answer which March
gratefully cut short.

"O! I wish I could! It hurts me all over and through to decline it. But
I must; I've got to! 'Think it over'--O! I've thought it over probably
before you ever thought of it at all! I know my capabilities. I'm not in
such a fierce hurry for things as I used to be, but I've got what brains
I ever had--and spine, too--and I know that even without your offer
there's a better chance for me North than here. But--O! it's no use,
Fair, I just can't go! I mustn't! Yes. Yes. O! yes, I know all that,
but, my dear sir, I can't afford--You know, this Suez soil isn't
something I can shake off my shoes as you might. George! I'm part of it!
I'm not Quixotic--not a bit! I'm only choosing between t