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Bridgton was in the habit of visiting him every two months
for a solemn house…cleaning； and Mrs。 Buck from Pleasant
River came every Saturday and Monday for baking and washing。
Between times Davy and his uncle did the housework together；
and although it was respectably done； there was no pink…and…white
daintiness about it； you may be sure。
Lyddy came out to the apple…trees in about an hour；
laughing a little nervously as she said； 〃I'm sorry to
have taken a mean advantage of you； Mr。 Croft； but I know
everything you've got in your house； and exactly where it is。
I couldn't help it； you see； when I was making things tidy。
It would do you good to see the boy。 His room was too light；
and the flies were devouring him。 I swept him and dusted him；
put on clean sheets and pillow slips； sponged him with bay rum；
brushed his hair； drove out the flies； and tacked a green
curtain up to the window。 Fifteen minutes after he was sleeping
like a kitten。 He has a sore throat and considerable fever。
Could youcan youat least； will you； go up to my house
on an errand？〃
〃Certainly I can。 I know it inside and out as well as my own。〃
〃Very good。 On the clock shelf in the sitting…room there
is a bottle of sweet spirits of nitre； it's the only bottle there；
so you can't make any mistake。 It will help until the doctor comes。
I wonder you didn't send for him yesterday？〃
〃Davy wouldn't have him；〃 apologized his uncle。
〃Wouldn't he ？〃 said Lyddy with cheerful scorn。
〃He has you under pretty good control； hasn't he？
But children are unmerciful tyrants。〃
〃Couldn't you coax him into it before you go home？〃 asked Anthony
in a wheedling voice。
〃I can try； but it isn't likely I can
influence him； if you can't。 Still； if we both fail； I really don't
see what 's to prevent our sending for the doctor in spite of him。
He is as weak as a baby； you know； and can't sit up in bed：
what could he do？ I will risk the consequences； if you will！ 〃
There was a note of such amiable and winning sarcasm in all this；
such a cheery； invincible courage； such a friendly neighborliness
and cooperation； above all such a different tone from any
he was accustomed to hear in Edgewood； that Anthony Croft felt
warmed through to the core。
As he walked quickly along the road； he conjured up a vision
of autumn beauty from the few hints nature gave even to her sightless
ones on this glorious morning；the rustle of a few fallen leaves under
his feet； the clear wine of the air； the full rush of the swollen river；
the whisking of the squirrels in the boughs； the crunch of their teeth
on the nuts； the spicy odor of the apples lying under the trees。
He missed his mother that morning more than he had missed her for years。
How neat she was； how thrifty； how comfortable； and how comforting！
His life was so dreary and aimless； and was it the best or the right one
for Davy； with his talent and dawning ambition？ Would it not be better
to have Mrs。 Buck live with them altogether； instead of coming twice a week；
as heretofore ？ No； he shrank from that with a hopeless aversion born
of Saturday and Monday dinners in her company。 He could hear her pour
her coffee into the saucer； hear the scraping of the cup on the rim；
and know that she was setting it sloppily down on the cloth。 He could
remember her noisy drinking； the weight of her elbow on the table；
the creaking of her calico dress under the pressure of superabundant flesh。
Besides； she had tried to scrub his favorite violin with sapolio。
No； anything was better than Mrs。 Buck as a constancy。
He took off his hat unconsciously as he entered Lyddy's sitting…room。
A gentle breeze blew one of the full red curtains towards him till
it fluttered about his shoulders like a frolicsome； teasing hand。
There was a sweet； pungent odor of pine boughs； a canary sang in the window；
the clock was trimmed with a blackberry vine； he knew the prickles；
and they called up to his mind the glowing tints he had loved so well。
His sensitive hand； that carried a divining rod in every finger…tip；
met a vase on the shelf； and； traveling upward； touched a full branch
of alder berries tied about with a ribbon。 The ribbon would be red；
the woman who arranged this room would make no mistake； for in one morning
Anthony Croft had penetrated the secret of Lyddy's true personality；
and in a measure had sounded the shallows that led to the depths
of her nature。
Lyddy went home at seven o'clock that night rather reluctantly。
The doctor had said Mr。 Croft could sit up with the boy unless he grew
much worse； and there was no propriety in her staying longer unless
there was danger。
〃You have been very good to me；〃 Anthony said gravely；
as he shook her hand at parting；〃very good。〃
They stood together on the doorstep。 A distant bell；
called to evening prayer…meeting； the restless murmur of the river
and the whisper of the wind in the pines broke the twilight stillness。
The long； quiet day together； part of it spent by the sick child's bedside；
had brought the two strangers curiously near to each other。
〃The house hasn't seemed so sweet and fresh since my mother died；〃
he went on； as he dropped her hand； 〃and I haven't had so many flowers
and green things in it since I lost my eyesight。〃
〃Was it long ago？〃
〃Ten years。 Is that long？〃
〃Long to bear a burden。〃
〃I hope you know little of burden…bearing？〃
〃I know little else。〃
〃I might have guessed it from the alacrity with which
you took up Davy's and mine。 You must be very happy to have
the power to make things straight and sunny and wholesome；
to breathe your strength into helplessness such as mine。
I thank you； and I envy you。 Good…night。〃
Lyddy turned on her heel without a word； her mind was beyond
and above words。 The sky seemed to have descended upon； enveloped her；
caught her up into its heaven； as she rose into unaccustomed heights
of feeling； like Elijah in his chariot of fire。 She very happy！
She with power； power to make things straight and sunny and wholesome！
She able to breathe strength into helplessness； even a consecrated；
Godsmitten helplessness like his！ She not only to be thanked； but envied！
Her house seemed strange to her that night。
She went to bed in the dark； dreading even the light of a candle；
and before she turned down her counterpane she flung herself
on her knees； and poured out her soul in a prayer that had
been growing； waiting； and waited for； perhaps； for years：
〃O Lord； I thank Thee for health and strength and life。
I never could do it before； but I thank Thee to…night for life
on any terms。 I thank Thee for this home； for the chance
of helping another human creature； stricken like myself；
for the privilege of ministering to a motherless child。
Make me to long only for the beauty of holiness； and to be
satisfied if I attain to it。 Wash my soul pure and clean；
and let