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TrampasdepartedwithsomethingmutteredthatIdidnothear，andtheVirginianclosedintimateconversationbysaying，“You’llbelateforbreakfast。“Withthathealsotookhimselfaway。
Theladieswereinclinedtobescandalized，butnottheJudge。
Whenmywholestorywasdone，hebroughthisfistdownonthetable，andnotlightlythistime。“I’dmakehimlieutenantgeneraliftheranchofferedthatposition！“hedeclared。
MissMollyWoodsaidnothingatthetime。Butintheafternoon，byherwish，shewentfishing，withtheVirginiandeputedtoescorther。Irodewiththem，forawhile。Iwasnotgoingtocontinueathirdinthatparty；theVirginianwastoobecominglydressed，andIsawKENILWORTHpeepingoutofhispocket。Imeanttobefishingbymyselfwhenthatvolumewasreturned。
ButMissWoodtalkedwithskilfulopennessaswerode。“I’veheardallaboutyouandDr。MacBride，“shesaid。“Howcouldyoudoit，whentheJudgeplacessuchconfidenceinyou？“
Helookedpleased。“Ireckon，“hesaid，“Icouldn’tbesogoodifIwasn’tbadoncedinawhile。
“Why，there’saskunk，“saidI，noticingtheprettylittleanimaltrottinginfrontofusattheedgeofthethickets。
“Oh，whereisit？Don’tletmeseeit！“screamedMolly。Andatthisdeeplyfeminineremark，theVirginianlookedatherwithsuchasmilethat，hadIbeenawoman，itwouldhavemademehistodowhathepleasedwithonthespot。
Uponthelady，however，itseemedtomakelessimpression。Orrather，Ihadbettersay，whateverwereherfeelings，sheverynaturallymadenodisplayofthem，andcontrivednottobeawareofthatexpressionwhichhadpassedovertheVirginian’sface。
ItwaslaterthatthesefewwordsreachedmewhileIwasfishingalone:“Haveyouanythingdifferenttotellmeyet？“Iheardhimsay。
“Yes；Ihave。“Shespokeinaccentslightandwellintrenched。“I
wishtosaythatIhaveneverlikedanymanbetterthanyou。ButIexpectto！“
Hemusthavedrawnsmallcomfortfromsuchananswerasthat。Buthelaughedoutindomitably:“Don’tyu’gobettingonanysuchexpectation！“Andthentheirwordsceasedtobedistinct，anditwasonlytheirtwovoicesthatIheardwanderingamongthewindingsofthestream。
XXII。“WHATISARUSTLER？“
Weallknowwhatbirdsofafeatherdo。Anditmaybesafelysurmisedthatifabirdofanyparticularfeatherhasbeenforalongwhileunabletoseeotherbirdsofitskind，itwillflockwiththemallthemoreassiduouslywhentheyhappentoalightinitsvicinity。
NowtheOgdenswerebirdsofMolly’sfeather。TheyworeEastern，andnotWestern，plumage，andtheirsongwasadifferentsongfromthatwhichtheBearCreekbirdssang。Tobesure，thepipingoflittleGeorgeTaylorwasfullofhopefulinterest；andmanyotherstrains，bothstrikingandmelodious，wereliftedinCattleLand，andhadgivenpleasuretoMolly’sear。ButalthoughIndians，andbears，andmavericks，makeworthythemesforsong，thesearenottheonlysongsintheworld。ThereforetheEasternwarblingsoftheOgdenssoundeddoublysweettoMollyWood。SuchwordsasNewport，BarHarbor，andTiffany’sthrilledherexceedingly。ItmadenodifferencethatsheherselfhadneverbeentoNewportorBarHarbor，andhadvisitedTiffany’smoreoftentoadmirethantopurchase。Onthecontrary，thisratheraddedadazzletothemusicoftheOgdens。AndMolly，whoseEasternsonghadbeensilentinthisstrangeland，begantochirpitagainduringthevisitthatshemadeattheSunkCreekRanch。
ThustheVirginian’scausebynomeansprosperedatthistime。
Hisforceswerescattered，whileMolly’swereconcentrated。Thegirlwasnotatthatpointwhereabsencemakestheheartgrowfonder。WhiletheVirginianwastrundlinghislong，responsiblemilesinthecaboose，deliveringthecattleatChicago，vanquishingTrampasalongtheYellowstone，shehadregainedherself。
Thusitwasthatshecouldtellhimsoeasilyduringthosefirsthoursthattheywerealoneafterhisreturn，“Iexpecttolik
