"Well, bridegroom! I've been counting the days!" said Doctor Carey. "The Missus and I made it up this morning that we had waited as long as we would. We are coming to-night. David" "It's all right, Doc," said the Harvester. "Don't you dare think anything is wrong or that I am not the proudest, happiest man in this world, because I appear anxious. I am not trying to conceal it from you. You know we both agreed at first that Ruth should be in the hospital, Doc. Well, she should! She is what would be a lovely woman if she were not full of the poison of wrong food and air, overwork, and social conditions that have warped her. She is all I dreamed of and more, but I've come for you. She is too sick for me. I hoped she would begin to gain strength at once on changed conditions. As yet I can't see any difference. She needs a doctor, but I hate for her to know it. Could you come out this afternoon, and pretend as if it were a visit?
Bring Mrs. Carey and watch the Girl. If you need an examination, I think she will obey me. If you can avoid it, fix what she should have and send it back to me by a messenger. I don't like to leave her when she is so ill."
"I'll come at once, David."
"Then she will know that I came for you, and that will frighten her. You can do more good to wait until afternoon, and pretend you are ****** a social call.
I must go now. I'd have brought her in, but I have no proper conveyance yet. I'm promised something soon, perhaps it is ready now. Good-bye! Be sure to come!"
The Harvester drove to a livery barn and examined a little horse, a shining black creature that seemed gentle and spirited. He thought favourably of it. A few days before he had selected a smart carriage, and with this outfit tied behind the wagon he returned to Medicine Woods. He left the horse at the bridge, stabled Betsy, and then returned for the new conveyance, driving it to the hitching post. At the sound of unexpected wheels the Girl lifted her head and stared at the turnout.
"Come on!" cried the Harvester opening the screen.
"We are going to the woods to initiate your carriage."
She went with little cries of surprised wonder.
"This is how you travel to Onabasha to do your shopping, to call on Mrs. Carey and the friends you will make, and visit the library. When I've tried out Mr.
Horse enough to prove him reliable as guaranteed, he is yours, for your purposes only, and when you grow wonderfully well and strong, we'll sell him and buy you a real live horse and a stanhope, such as city ladies have;and there must be a saddle so that you can ride."
"Oh I'd love that!" cried the Girl. "I always wanted to ride! Where are we going?"
"To show you Medicine Woods," said the Harvester.
"I've been waiting for this. You see there are several hundred acres of trees, thickets, shrubs, and herb beds up there, and if the wagon road that winds between them were stretched straight it would be many miles in length, so we have a cool, shaded, perfumed driveway all our own. Let me get you a drink before you start and the little shawl. It's chilly there compared with here. Now are you comfortable and ready?"
"Yes," said the Girl. "Hurry! I've just longed to go, but I didn't like to ask."
"I am sorry," said the Harvester. "Living here for years alone and never having had a sister, how am Igoing to know what a girl would like if you don't tell me? I knew it would be too tiresome for you to walk, and I was waiting to find a reliable horse and a suitable carriage."
"You won't scratch or spoil it up there?"
"I'll lower the top. It is not as wide as the wagon, so nothing will touch it."
"This is just so lovely, and such a wonderful treat, do you observe that I'm not saying a word about extravagance?" asked the Girl, as she leaned back in the carriage and inhaled the invigorating wood air.
The horse climbed the hill, and the Harvester guided him down long, dim roads through deep forest, while he explained what large thickets of bushes were, why he grew them, how he collected the roots or bark, for what each was used and its value. On and on they went, the way ahead always appearing as if it were too narrow to pass, yet proving amply wide when reached. Excited redbirds darted among the bushes, and the Harvester answered their cry. Blackbirds protested against the unusual intrusion of strange objects, and a brown thrush slipped from a late nest close the road wailing in anxiety.
One after another the Harvester introduced the Girl to the best trees, speculated on their age, previous history, and pointed out which brought large prices for lumber and which had medicinal bark and roots. On and on they slowly drove through the woods, past the big beds of cranesbill, violets, and lilies. He showed her where the mushrooms were most numerous, and for the first time told the story of how he had sold them and the violets from door to door in Onabasha in his search for her, and the amazed Girl sat staring at him. He told of Doctor Carey having seen her once, and inquired as they passed the bed if the yellow violets had revived.
He stopped to search and found a few late ones, deep among the leaves.
"Oh if I only had known that!" cried the Girl, "I would have kept them forever."
"No need," said the Harvester. "Here and now Ipresent you with the sole ownership of the entire white and yellow violet beds. Next spring you shall fill your room. Won't that be a treat?"
"One money never could buy!" cried the Girl.
"Seems to be my strong point," commented the Harvester. "The most I have to offer worth while is something you can't buy. There is a fine fairy platform.
They can spare you one. I'll get it."
The Harvester broke from a tree a large fan-shaped fungus, the surface satin fine, the base mossy, and explained to the Girl that these were the ballrooms of the woods, the floors on which the little people dance in the moonlight at their great celebrations. Then he added a piece of woolly dog moss, and showed her how each separate spine was like a perfect little evergreen tree.
"That is where the fairies get their Christmas pines," he explained.
"Do you honestly believe in fairies?"
