"And you wouldn't have come if it hadn't been for what I said?"
"No. You set me to thinking, and when I got to thinking I couldn't stop. And, of course, when I couldn't stop thinking I had to come; that's all."
"I'm so glad," sighed Cordelia; then, interestedly: "How long have you been here?"
"Only since day before yesterday. No one in the village knows I'm here, I suspect. We've been talking over our plans—father and I. I want him to come West with me."
Cordelia got up from the ground.
"I'm so glad," she said again, simply. "Genevieve, I think we ought to be going."
As she turned toward the path, Hermit Joe advanced so that he intercepted her.
"Miss Cordelia, I would like to tell how—but I can't. Still—I wish you could know how happy you've made me."
Hermit Joe spoke with evident difficulty. His lips, so long unused to speaking, stumbled over the words; but his eyes glowed as with hidden fires, and his whole face was alight with joy.