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〃Well； I hope you'll live to regret it；〃 he said suddenly； with bitter passion。
The words startled her； and she caught her breath with a tremor。
〃What an awful wish！〃 she exclaimed lightly。
〃It's an honest one。〃
〃I'm not sure I shouldn't prefer a little polite lying。〃
〃You won't get it from me。 I hope you'll live to regret it。 Why shouldn't I？〃
〃Oh； you might at least be decently human。 If you hadn't been so brave yesterday； I might almost think you a savage to…day。〃
〃I didn't do that on purpose； I told you；〃 he returned angrily。
〃You can't make me believe thatit's no use trying。〃
〃I shan't trythough it's the gospel truthand you'll find it out some day。〃
〃When？〃
〃Oh； when the time comes； that's all。〃
〃You speak in riddles；〃 she said； 〃and I always hated guessing。〃 Then she held out her hand with a pleasant； conventional smile。 〃I am grateful to you in spite of everything；〃 she said； 〃and now good…by。〃
His arms hung at his side。 〃No； I won't shake hands；〃 he answered。 〃What's the use？〃
〃As you pleaseonly； it's the usual thing at parting。〃
〃All the same； I won't do it；〃 he said stubbornly。 〃My hands are not clean。〃 He held them out； soiled with earth and the stains from the tobacco。
For an instant her eyes dwelt upon him very kindly。
〃Oh； I shan't mind the traces of honest toil；〃 she said； but as he still hung back； she gave a friendly nod and went quickly homeward along the road。 As her figure vanished among the trees； a great bitterness oppressed him； and； picking up his knife； he went back doggedly to his work。
In the kitchen； when he returned to dinner some hours later； he found Cynthia squinting heavily over the torn coat。
〃I must say you ruined this yesterday；〃 she remarked； looking up from her needle； 〃and if you'd listened to me you could have stopped those horses just as well in your old jean clothes。 I had a feeling that something was going to happen； when I saw you with this on。〃
〃I don't doubt it；〃 he responded； woefully eyeing the garment spread on her knees； 〃and I may as well admit right now that I made a mess of the whole thing。 To think of my wasting the only decent suit I had on a Fletcherafter saving up a year to buy it； too。〃
Cynthia twitched the coat inside out and placed a square patch over the ragged edges of the rent。 〃I suppose I ought to be thankful you saved the boy's life；〃 she observed； 〃but I can't say that I feel particularly jubilant when I look at these armholes。 Of course； when I first heard of it the coat seemed a mere trifle； but when I come to the mending I begin to wish you'd been heroic in your everyday clothes。 There'll have to be a patch right here； but I don't reckon it will show much。 Do you mind？〃
〃I'd rather wear a mustard plaster than a patch any time；〃 he replied gravely； 〃but as long as there's no help for it； lay them ondon't slight the job a bit because of my feelings。 I can stand pretty well having my jean clothes darned and mended； but I do object to dressing up on Sundays in a bedquilt。〃
〃Well； you'll have to； that's all；〃 was Cynthia's reassuring rejoinder。 〃It's the price you pay for being a hero when you can't afford it。〃
CHAPTER VI。 Shows Fletcher in a New Light
Responding to a much…distracted telegram from Fletcher； Carraway arrived at the Hall early on the morning of Maria's marriage； to arrange for the transfer to the girl of her smaller share in her grandfather's wealth。 In the reaction following the hysterical excitement over the accident； Fletcher had grown doubly solicitous about the future of the boyfeeling； apparently； that the value of his heir was increased by his having so nearly lost him。 When Carraway found him he was bustling noisily about the sick…room； walking on tiptoe with a tramp that shook the floor； while Will lay gazing wearily at the sunlight which filtered through the bright green shutters。 Somewhere in the house a canary was trilling joyously； and the cheerful sound lent a pleasant animation to the otherwise depressing atmosphere。 On his way upstairs Carraway had met Maria running from the boy's room； with her hair loose upon her shoulders； and she had stopped long enough to show a smiling face on the subject of her marriage。 There were to be only Fletcher； Miss Saidie and himself as witnesses； he gathered； Wyndham's parents having held somewhat aloof from the connectionand within three hours at the most it would be over and the bridal pair beginning their long journey。 Looking down from the next landing； he had further assurance of the sincerity of Maria's smile when he saw the lovers meet and embrace within the shadow of the staircase； and the sight stirred within his heart something of that wistful pity with which those who have learned how little emotion counts in life watch the first exuberance of young passion。 A bright beginning whatever be the ending； he thought a little sadly； as he turned the handle of the sick…room door。
The boy's fever had risen and he tossed his arms restlessly upon the counterpane。 〃Stand out of my sunshine； grandpa；〃 he said fretfully； as the lawyer sat down by his bedside。
Fletcher shuffled hastily from before the window； and it struck Carraway almost ludicrously that in all the surroundings in which he had ever seen him the man had never appeared so hopelessly out of placenot even when he had watched him at prayer one Sunday in the little country church。
〃There； you're in it again；〃 complained the boy in his peevish tones。
Fletcher lifted a cup from the table and brought it over to the bed。
〃Maybe you'd like a sip of this beef tea now；〃 he suggested persuasively。 〃It's most time for your medicine； you know； so jest a little taste of this beforehand。〃
〃I don't like it； grandpa； it's too salt。〃
〃Thar； now； that's jest like Saidie；〃 blurted Fletcher angrily。 〃Saidie； you've gone and made his beef tea too salt。〃
Miss Saidie appeared instantly at the door of the adjoining room； and without seeking to diminish the importance of her offense； mildly offered to prepare a fresh bowl of the broth。
〃I'm packing Maria's clothes now；〃 she said； 〃but I'll be through in a jiffy； and then I'll make the soup。 I've jest fixed up the parlour for the marriage。 Maria insists on having a footstool to kneel onshe ain't satisfied with jest standing with jined hands before the preacher； like her pa and ma did before she was born。〃
〃Well； drat Maria's whims；〃 retorted Fletcher impatiently； 〃they can wait； I reckon； and Will's got to have his tea； so you'd better fetch it。〃
〃But I don't want it； grandpa；〃 protested the boy； flushed and troubled。 〃You worry me so； that's all。 Please stop fooling with those curtains。 I like the sunshine。〃
〃A nap is what he needs； I suspect；〃 observed Carraway； touched； in spite of himself； by the lumbering misery of the man。
〃Ah； that's it；〃 agreed Fletcher； catching readily at the
suggestion。 〃You jest turn right over and take yo' nap； and when you wake up well； I'll give you anything you want。 Here； swallow this stuff down quick and you'll sleep easy。〃
He brought the medicine glass to the bedside； and； slipping his great hairy hand under the pillow； gently raised the boy's head。
〃I rec