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You are good； you are wise； you shall tell me。'
She could not have recalled him better。 He stood silent some
moments； then burst out passionately
'Why then has love come to us？ We did not seek it。 Surely love is
of God。 Does God mock us？'
He threw himself into his chair； pouring out his words of
passionate protestation。 She listened； smiling； then came to him
and； touching his hair as a mother might her child's； said
'Oh； I am very happy！ I was afraid you would not care； and I could
not bear to go that way。'
'You shall not go；' he cried aloud； as if in pain。 'Nothing can
make that right。'
But she only said； 'You shall tell me to…morrow。 You cannot see
to…night； but you will see； and you will tell me。'
He stood up and； holding both her hands； looked long into her eyes；
then turned abruptly away and went out。
She stood where he left her for some moments； her face radiant； and
her hands pressed upon her heart。 Then she came toward my room。
She found me busy with my painting； but as I looked up and met her
eyes she flushed slightly； and said
'I quite forgot you。'
'So it appeared to me。'
'You heard？'
'And saw；' I replied boldly。 'It would have been rude to
interrupt； you see。'
'Oh； I am so glad and thankful。'
'Yes； it was rather considerate of me。'
'Oh； I don't mean that；' the flush deepening； 'I am glad you know。'
'I have known some time。'
'How could you？ I only knew to…day myself。'
'I have eyes。' She flushed again。
'Do you mean that people' she began anxiously。
'No； I am not 〃people。〃 I have eyes； and my eyes have been
opened。'
'Opened？'
'Yes； by love。'
Then I told her openly how； weeks ago； I struggled with my heart
and mastered it； for I saw it was vain to love her； because she
loved a better man who loved her in return。 She looked at me shyly
and said
'I am sorry。'
'Don't worry；' I said cheerfully。 'I didn't break my heart； you
know； I stopped it in time。'
'Oh！' she said； slightly disappointed； then her lips began to
twitch； and she went off into a fit of hysterical laughter。
'Forgive me；' she said humbly； 'but you speak as if it had been a
fever。'
'Fever is nothing to it；' I said solemnly。 'It was a near thing。'
At which she went off again。 I was glad to see her laugh。 It gave
me time to recover my equilibrium； and it relieved her intense
emotional strain。 So I rattled on some nonsense about Craig and
myself till I saw she was giving no heed； but thinking her own
thoughts： and what these were it was not hard to guess。
Suddenly she broke in upon my talk
'He will tell me that I must go from him。'
'I hope he is no such fool；' I said emphatically and somewhat
rudely； I fear； for I confess I was impatient with the very
possibility of separation for these two； to whom love meant so
much。 Some people take this sort of thing easily and some not so
easily； but love for a woman like this comes once only to a man；
and then he carries it with him through the length of his life； and
warms his heart with it in death。 And when a man smiles or sneers
at such love as this； I pity him； and say no word； for my speech
would be in an unknown tongue。 So my heart was sore as I sat
looking up at this woman who stood before me； overflowing with the
joy of her new love； and dully conscious of the coming pain。 But I
soon found it was vain to urge my opinion that she should remain
and share the work and life of the man she loved。 She only
answered
'You will help him all you can； for it will hurt him to have me
go。'
The quiver in her voice took out all the anger from my heart； and
before I knew I had pledged myself to do all I could to help him。
But when I came upon him that night； sitting in the light of his
fire； I saw he must be let alone。 Some battles we fight side by
side； with comrades cheering us and being cheered to victory； but
there are fights we may not share； and these are deadly fights
where lives are lost and won。 So I could only lay my hand upon his
shoulder without a word。 He looked up quickly； read my face； and
said； with a groan
'You know？'
'I could not help it。 But why groan？'
'She will think it right to go；' he said despairingly。
'Then you must think for her； you must bring some common…sense to
bear upon the question。'
'I cannot see clearly yet；' he said； 'the light will come。'
'May I show you how I see it？' I asked。
'Go on；' he said。
For an hour I talked； eloquently； even vehemently urging the reason
and right of my opinion。 She would be doing no more than every
woman does； no more than she did before； her mother…in…law had a
comfortable home； all that wealth could procure； good servants； and
friends； the estates could be managed without her personal
supervision； after a few years' work here they would go east for
little Majorie's education； why should two lives be broken？and so
I went on。
He listened carefully； even eagerly。
'You make a good case；' he said； with a slight smile。 'I will take
time。 Perhaps you are right。 The light will come。 Surely it will
come。 But；' and here he sprang up and stretched his arms to full
length above his head； 'I am not sorry； whatever comes I am not
sorry。 It is great to have her love； but greater to love her as I
do。 Thank God！ nothing can take that away。 I am willing； glad to
suffer for the joy of loving her。'
Next morning； before I was awake； he was gone； leaving a note for
me：
'MY DEAR CONNOR；I am due at the Landing。 When I see you again I
think my way will be clear。 Now all is dark。 At times I am a
coward； and often； as you sometimes kindly inform me； an ass； but I
hope I may never become a mule。
I am willing to be led； or want to be； at any rate。 I must do the
bestnot second bestfor her； for me。 The best only is God's
will。 What else would you have？ Be good to her these days； dear
old fellow。Yours； CRAIG。'
How often those words have braced me he will never know； but I am a
better man for them： 'The best only is God's will。 What else would
you have？' I resolved I would rage and fret no more； and that I
would worry Mrs。 Mavor with no more argument or expostulation； but；
as my friend had asked； 'Be good to her。'
CHAPTER XII
LOVE IS NOT ALL
Those days when we were waiting Craig's return we spent in the
woods or on the mountain sides； or down in the canyon beside the
stream that danced down to meet the Black Rock river； I talking and
sketching and reading； and she listening and dreaming； with often a
happy smile upon her face。 But there were moments when a cloud of
shuddering fear would sweep the smile away； and then I would talk
of Craig till the smile came back again。
But the woods and the mountains and the river were her best； her
wisest； friends during those days。 How sweet the ministry of the
woods to her！ The trees were in their new summer leaves； fresh and
full of life。 They swayed and rustled above us； flinging their
interlacing shadows upon us； and their swaying and their rustling
soothed and comforted like the voice and touch of a mother。 And
the mountains； too； in all the glory of their varying robes o