下载辰思小说免费APP
“Donotsquanderyourstrength，“saidshe。
“Oh，Icouldputupaprettygoodfightnow！“Buthetotteredinshowingherhowstronghewas，andshetoldhimthat，afterall，hewasachildstill。
“Yes，“heslowlysaid，lookingafterherasshewenttobringhishorse，“thesamechildthatwantedtotouchthemoon，Iguess。“
Andduringtheslowclimbdownintothesaddlefromarocktowhichshehelpedhimhesaid，“Youhavegottobethemanallthroughthismess。“
Shesawhisteethclinchedandhisdroopingmusclescompelledbywill；andasherodeandshewalkedtolendhimsupport，leadingherhorsebyabackward-stretchedlefthand，shecountedoffthedistancetohimcontinually——theincreasinggain，thelesseningroad，thelandmarksnearinganddroppingbehind；herewasthetreewiththewasp-nestgone；nowtheburnedcabinwaspassed；
nowthecottonwoodsatthefordwereinsight。Hewassilent，andheldtothesaddlehorn，leaningmoreandmoreagainsthistwohandsclaspedoverit；andjustaftertheyhadmadethecrossinghefell，withoutasodslippingtothegrass，andhisdescentbrokenbyher。Butitstartedthebloodalittle，andshedarednotleavehimtoseekhelp。Shegavehimthelastoftheflaskandallthewaterhecraved。
Revived，hemanagedtosmile。“Yu’see，Iain’tworthkeeping。“
“It’sonlyamile，“saidshe。Soshefoundalog，afallentrunk，andhecrawledtothat，andfromtherecrawledtohissaddle，andshemarchedonwithhim，talking，biddinghimnotethestepsaccomplished。Forthenexthalf-miletheywentthus，thesilentmanclinchedonthehorse，andbyhissidethegirlwalkingandcheeringhimforward，whensuddenlyhebegantospeak:-“Iwillsaygood-bytoyounow，ma’am。“
Shedidnotunderstand，atfirst，thesignificanceofthis。
“Heisgettingaway，“pursuedtheVirginian。“Imustaskyoutoexcuseme，ma’am。“
Itwasalongwhilesinceherlordhadaddressedheras“ma’am。“
Asshelookedathimingrowingapprehension，heturnedMonteandwouldhaveriddenaway，butshecaughtthebridle。
“Youmusttakemehome，“saidshe，withreadyinspiration。“IamafraidoftheIndians。“
“Why，you——why，they’veallgone。Therehegoes。Ma’am——thathawss——“
“No，“saidshe，holdingfirmlyhisreinandquickeningherstep。
“Agentlemandoesnotinvitealadytogooutridingandleaveher。“
Hiseyeslosttheirpurpose。“I’llcert’nlytakeyouhome。Thatsorrelhasgoneintherebythewallow，andJudgeHenrywillunderstand。“Withhiseyeswatchingimaginaryobjects，herodeandrambledanditwasnowthegirlwhowassilent，excepttokeephismindfromitshalf-fixedideaofthesorrel。Ashegrewmorefluentshehastenedstillmore，listeningtoheadoffthatnotionofreturn，skilfullyinventingquestionstoengagehim，sothatwhenshebroughthimtohergatesheheldhiminamannersubjected，answeringfaithfullytheshrewdunrealitieswhichshedevised，whatevermakeshiftsshecouldsummontohermind；andnextshehadgothiminsideherdwellingandsethimdowndocile，butnowcompletelywandering；andthen——nohelpwasathand，evenhere。Shehadmadesureofaidfromnextdoor，andthereshehastened，tofindtheTaylor’scabinlockedandsilent；andthismeantthatparentsandchildrenweregonetodrive；normightshebeluckierathernextnearestneighbors’，shouldshetraveltheinterveningmiletofetchthem。Withamindjostledoncemoreintouncertainty，shereturnedtoherroom，andsawachangeinhimalready。Illnesshadstriddenuponhim；hisfacewasnotasshehadleftit，andthewholebody，thesplendidsupplehorseman，showedsicknessineverylineandlimb，itsspursandpistolandboldleatherchapsamockeryoftrappings。Shelookedathim，anddecisioncamebacktoher，clearandsteady。Shesupportedhimovertoherbedandlaidhimonit。Hisheadsankflat，andhisloose，nervelessarmsstayedassheleftthem。Thenamongherpacking-boxesandbeneaththelittleminiature，blueandflaxenandgolduponitslonelywall，sheundressedhim。Hewascold，andshecoveredhimtotheface，andarrangedthepillow，andgotfromitsboxh
