Untroubled, the brave eyes looked into his, conveying a message of courage and perfect peace that somehow uplifted the man's anxious thought to catch a glimpse of her exalted faith.
"But you know, Tess," he continued, "you are not so well this winter and you ought to have some one here to look after you."
Tess shook her head, the bronze curls twisting and falling over her shoulders and upon the arms embracing her.
"No, siree," she answered. "I can't have any one here, on 'count of Andy. Oh, ye mustn't worry 'bout me. I air all right an' will be every minute."
"At least, dear," Deforrest insisted, "let me get a doctor and nurse when—when—"
The brilliant head suddenly bowed itself forward against Young's rough coat. For a moment, her high courage faltered, but not for long. Surely, the same power that had cared for her today would see her through this other trial.
"Nope, not any doctor or nurse," she refused. "I'll have Mother Moll. She knows what to do an' she air safe."
Withdrawing herself from Young's arms, she took his hand and kissed it.
"God sure air good to Tessibel," she murmured.
A moment they stood there. Then the lawyer took up his hat and turned to the door.