"Did she send you here as a kind of test?"
"Oh, no, she told me good-by and we parted forever. Both of us were poor,—you can't live in the city if you're poor; you can BE poor there, but not LIVE. By this time she's found some one with property, I dare say—she's tremendously handsome and accomplished, and has a very distinguished-looking mother and they have friends in society—she'll make it all right, no doubt." His voice was matter-of-fact even to indifference; but for all that, he seemed to be deeply inhaling Lahoma's freshness of morning-rose sparkling with dew.
"Does it pierce your heart to think of her marrying somebody else?" Her voice was sweet with the dream-passion of a young girl.
"When I left home, I flung myself into the life of a cow-puncher and did all I could to keep from thinking. So my heart's rather callous by this time. I don't seem to mind like I thought I would if I should sit down to think about it. That's what I've avoided like the plague—sitting down to think about it. But I believe I could sit down and think about it now, pretty calmly."
"Then that's what I'd do," Lahoma cried. "I'd just face it. She isn't worthy of you if she'd rather have a fortune than the man she loves. I'd just sit down and face it."
"I will!" He had never before thought it could be easy. It seemed very easy, now.
"Maybe I could help you," Lahoma suggested earnestly. "When Mrs. Featherby lived near, I asked her all about such cases and got her advice and experience. Change of scene and time are the greatest remedies. You've had both. Then you must tell yourself that she isn't worthy. And then you'll remind yourself that there are OTHER girls in the world. Then you keep your mind occupied,—that is a great thing. If you come to the cove to visit us, we will try to occupy your mind—won't we Brick?—and Bill?"
Bill looked at Wilfred glumly. "It's too occupied now, I'm afraid."
"Bill, this is a-growing on you," Brick expostulated. "I like the young chap first rate. He's open and free. Bill, you are hampering, at times. I would go to my dugout if I was you, and cool my head."
"Your head'll be hot enough," growled Bill, "when this has gone too far."