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—[Mystified.] But you and Andy were always together!

—Because you never seemed to want to go any place with me. You were always reading an old book, and not paying any attention to me. I was too proud to let you see I cared because I thought the year you had away to college had made you stuck-up, and you thought yourself too educated to waste any time on me.

—[Kissing her.] And I was thinking [With a laugh.] What fools we’ve both been!

—[Overcome by a sudden fear.] You won’t go away on the trip, will you, Rob? You’ll tell them you can’t go on account of me, won’t you? You can’t go now! You can’t!

—[Bewildered.] Perhaps—you can come too.

—Oh, Rob, don’t be so foolish. You know I can’t. Who’d take care of Ma? She has no one in the world but me. I can’t leave her—the way she is. It’d be different if she was well and healthy like other people. Don’t you see I couldn’t go—on her account?

—[Vaguely.] I could go—and then send for you both—when I’d settled some place out there.

—Ma never could. She’d never leave the farm for anything; and she couldn’t make a trip anywhere ’til she got better—if she ever does. And oh, Rob, I wouldn’t want to live in any of those outlandish places you were going to. I couldn’t stand it there, I know I couldn’t—not knowing anyone. It