Diana laid her cheek against his. “Thank you, dear,� she said, “for her memory—we will always love it together.�
XXX
WHEN Dr. Cheyney came down-stairs he found Colonel Royall alone, and he was able to reassure him about the patient in the west room.
“He’s going to live,� he said; “he’s had a close squeak, but he’ll pull through unless something else happens. Lucky thing, too, for Zeb Bartlett.�
“That poor boy is an idiot,� said the colonel reflectively. “I can’t see what he did it for?�
“Mad at Caleb for one thing,� said Dr. Cheyney, “has been for some time because he couldn’t beg from him all the while. Then he was set on, had a pistol given him, I reckon.�
“Eh?� exclaimed the colonel, startled.
“Reckon so,� said the doctor mildly; he did not add that in the Commonwealth attorney’s office it was known to be Jacob Eaton’s pistol; “got some fool notion about his sister.�
“That’s a pretty bad business,� said Colonel Royall.
“Quite so!� agreed the doctor dryly.