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.