That night Leigh fell asleep early, for Miss Jane was methodical with children. Then she and Doctor Carey sat until late by the open wood fire and talked of many things, but first of Leigh and her future.
“You will miss her, I’m sure,” the doctor said.
“More than anyone will know,” Miss Jane replied. “But I could not be happy without fulfilling my promise. I wrote you to come soon because each day makes the giving up a little harder for me. But I must know the truth about this Uncle Jim. I cannot send Leigh out of my house to be neglected and unloved. She demands love above all things.”
The pink color deepened in Miss Jane’s fair cheek as she recalled what Leigh had said to Doctor Carey about loving her. The doctor remembered also, and knew why she blushed. Yet blushes, he thought, were becoming to her.
“I’ll tell you all I know of Mr. Shirley. We have been friends for many years,” he said.
Then as truthfully as possible he told her of the life and mind of the lonely loving plainsman. When he had finished, Miss Jane sat awhile in silent thought.
“It is right that you should know something of conditions here, Doctor,” she said at last. “The older 163 Shirleys are dead. Tank’s life hastened the end for them, the Cloverdale gossips say. And as I have owned the Shirley House for several years, I came to know them well, and I do not think the gossips were far out of the way.”
“What of Tank’s life?” Doctor Carey asked. “I have some personal reasons for asking.”
Miss Jane looked up quickly. She was a pretty woman, and a keenly intelligent one as well. To Horace Carey, she seemed most charming at that moment.