“I thank you, Bull, for chasing me into Molly Cabot’s heart.”
Then he turned, and hand in hand, the two people disappeared among the pines.
VIII
ACCORDING to habit, Mr. Cabot composed himself by the library table that evening for an hour’s reading before going to bed, but the book was soon lifted from his grasp and Molly seated herself in his lap. Although fingers were inserted between his collar and neck as a warning that the closest attention was expected, there followed a short silence before any words were uttered. Then she told him all: of being face to face with Barnard’s bull; of the narrow escape; of how Amos remained alone in the open field, and lastly, she gave the substance of what the rescuer had said to her, and that she had promised to be his wife. But on condition that her father should consent.
He received the news gravely; confessed he was not so very much surprised, although he had hoped it would come a little later. And she was very happy to find he made no objection to Amos as a son-in-law, and to hear him praise his character and pronounce him an honest, manly fellow. His behavior with the bull was heroic, but did not she think the reward he demanded was exorbitant? Was it not a little greedy to ask as a price for his services the entire value of the rescued property? It certainly was not customary to snatch away the object before placing it in the owner’s hands. “But he risked his life to save yours, and for that he shall have anything I own.”
The following morning, as she stepped upon the piazza, the doctor’s buggy came down the opposite avenue and turned toward the village. Could old Mrs. Judd be ill? or was it one of the servants?
An hour later, as there were still no signs of her bull-fighter she began to feel a slight annoyance. Perhaps after sleeping upon the events of yesterday his enthusiasm had cooled. Perhaps his exceptionally wide experience in this field had taught him that the most delicate way out of such dilemmas was to give the girl the initiative, and perhaps, now that he was sure she loved him, all the fun had departed. Perhaps, in short, he was now realizing that he had committed himself. Although none of these suspicions took a serious hold there was a biting of the nether lip and a slight flush upon the cheeks as she re-entered the house: and in order that he might not suspect, when he did come, that his delay had caused the slightest feeling, or that anyone had watched for him, she returned to her room. A few moments later a note was brought in which was received with indifference, but which, after Maggie’s departure she opened with nervous fingers.
MY Girl: That bull, God bless him! smashed two of my ribs, the doctor says, but I know better. They were broken by an outward force, a sudden expansion of the heart, and I felt them going when you came into a pair of arms.
Please come over, or I shall fly away, as I feel the sprouting of wings, and there is a cracking among the other ribs.
Amos.