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appearances； she would have scorned the notion that their intercourse had
any ultimate end beyond that of mutual pleasure and instruction。
It was early in the morning in the third week of Strand's stay at the
Parsonage。 A heavy dew had fallen during the night； and each tiny grass…
blade glistened in the sun； bending under the weight of its liquid diamond。
The birds were improvising a miniature symphony in the birches at the
end of the garden； the song… thrush warbled with a sweet melancholy his
long…drawn contralto notes； the lark； like a prima donna； hovering
conspicuously in mid air； poured forth her joyous soprano solo； and the
robin； quite unmindful of the tempo； filled out the pauses with his
thoughtless staccato chirp。 Augusta； who was herself the early bird of the
pastor's family； had paid a visit to the little bath…house down at the brook；
and was now hurrying homeward； her heavy black hair confined in a
delicate muslin hood； and her lithe form hastily wrapped in a loose
morning gown。 She had paused for a moment under the birches to listen
to the song of the lark； when suddenly a low； half articulate sound； very
unlike the voice of a bird； arrested her attention； she raised her eyes； and
saw Strand sitting in the top of a tree； apparently conversing with himself；
or with some tiny thing which he held in his hands。
〃Ah； yes； you poor little sickly thing！〃 she heard him mutter。 〃Don't
you make such an ado now。 You shall soon be quite well； if you will
only mind what I tell you。 Stop； stop！ Take it easy。 It is all for your
own good； you know。 If you had only been prudent； and not stepped on
your lame leg； you might have been spared this affliction。 But； after all；
it was not your faultit was that foolish little mother of yours。 She will
remember now that a skein of hemp thread is not the thing to line her nest
with。 If she doesn't； you may tell her that it was I who said so。〃
Augusta stood gazing on in mute astonishment； then； suddenly
remembering her hasty toilet； she started to run； but； as chance would have
it； a dry branch； which hung rather low； caught at her hood； and her hair
fell in a black wavy stream down over her shoulders。 She gave a little
cry； the tree shook violently； and Strand was at her side。 She blushed
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crimson over neck and face； and； in her utter bewilderment； stood like a
culprit before him； unable to move； unable to speak； and only returning
with a silent bow his cordial greeting。 It seemed to her that she had
ungenerously intruded upon his privacy； watching him； while he thought
himself unobserved。 And Augusta was quite unskilled in those social
accomplishments which enable young ladies to hide their inward emotions
under a show of polite indifference； for； however hard she strove； she
could not suppress a slight quivering of her lips； and her intense self…
reproach made Strand's words fall dimly on her ears； and prevented her
from gathering the meaning of what he was saying。 He held in his hands
a young bird with a yellow line along the edge of its bill （and there was
something beautifully soft and tender in the way those large palms of his
handled any living thing）； and he looked pityingly at it while he spoke。
〃The mother of this little linnet；〃 he said； smiling； 〃did what many
foolish young mothers are apt to do。 She took upon her the responsibility
of raising offspring without having acquired the necessary knowledge of
housekeeping。 So she lined her nest with hemp； and the consequence
was； that her first…born got his legs entangled； and was obliged to remain
in the nest long after his wings had reached their full development。 I saw
her feeding him about a week ago； and； as my curiosity prompted me to
look into the case； I released the little cripple； cleansed the deep wound
which the threads had cut in his flesh； and have since been watching him
during his convalescence。 Now he is quite in a fair way； but I had to
apply some salve； and to cut off the feathers about the wound； and the
little fool squirmed under the pain； and grew rebellious。 Only notice this
scar； if you please； Miss Oddson； and you may imagine what the poor
thing must have suffered。〃
Augusta gave a start； she timidly raised her eyes； and saw Strand's
grave gaze fixed upon her。 She felt as if some intolerable spell had come
over her； and； as her agitation increased； her power of speech seemed
utterly to desert her。
〃Ah； you have not been listening to me？〃 said Strand； in a tone of
wondering inquiry。 〃Pardon me for presuming to believe that my little
invalid could be as interesting to you as he is to me。〃
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〃Mr。 Strand；〃 stammered the girl； while the invisible tears came near
choking her voice。 〃Mr。 StrandI didn't meanreally〃
She knew that if she said another word she should burst into tears。
With a violent effort； she gathered up her wrapper； which somehow had
got unbuttoned at the neck； and； with heedlessly hurrying steps； darted
away toward the house。
Strand stood looking after her； quite unmindful of his feathered patient；
which flew chirping about him in the grass。 Two hours later Arnfinn
found him sitting under the birches with his hands clasped over the top of
his head； and his surgical instruments scattered on the ground around him。
〃Corpo di Baccho；〃 exclaimed the student； stooping to pick up the
precious tools； 〃have you been amputating your own head； or is it I who
am dreaming？〃
〃Ah；〃 murmured Strand； lifting a large； strange gaze upon his friend；
〃is it you？〃
〃Who else should it be？ I come to call you to breakfast。〃
IV。
〃I wonder what is up between Strand and Augusta？〃 said Arnfinn to
his cousin Inga。 The questioner was lying in the grass at her feet； resting
his chin on his palms； and gazing with roguishly tender eyes up into her
fresh； blooming face； but Inga； who was reading aloud from 〃David
Copperfield；〃 and was deep in the matrimonial tribulations of that noble
hero； only said 〃hush；〃 and continued reading。 Arnfinn； after a minute's
silence； repeated his remark； whereupon his fair cousin wrenched his cane
out of his hand； and held it threateningly over his head。
〃Will you be a good boy and listen？〃 she exclaimed； playfully
emphasizing each word with a light rap on his curly pate。
〃Ouch！ that hurts；〃 cried Arnfinn； and dodged。
〃It was meant to hurt；〃 replied Inga； with mock severity； and returned
to 〃Copperfield。〃
Presently the seed of a corn…flower struck the tip of her nose； and
again the cane was lifted； but Dora's housekeeping experiences were too
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absorbingly interesting； and the blue eyes could not resist their fascination。
〃Cousin Inga；〃 said Arnfinn； and this time with as near an approach to
earnestness as he was capable of at that moment； 〃I do believe that Strand
is in love with Augusta。〃
Inga dropped the book； and sent him what was meant to be a glance of
severe rebuke； and then said； in her own amusingly emphatic way：
〃I do wish you wouldn't joke with such things； Arnfinn。〃
〃Joke！ Indeed I am not joking。 I wish to heaven that I were。 What
a pity it is that she has taken such a dislike to him！〃
〃Dislike！ Oh； you are a profound philosopher； you are！ You think
that because she avoids〃
Here Inga abruptly clapped her hand over her mouth； and； with sudden
change o