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  did. He wanted to show Caleb the new paint and paper immediately, and remark casually that he had done all the work while he was “night-nursin’.”

The next morning Amanda had seized a good opportunity to open the door between the two rooms, straightway retiring to the side entry to await developments. In a few moments she heard Caleb moving, and going in found him half sitting up in bed, leaning on his elbow.

“What’s the matter with the kitchen?” he asked feebly, staring with wide-open eyes at the unaccustomed prospect.

“Only fresh paint an’ paper; that’s William’s work.”

“O God, I ain’t worth it! I ain’t worth it!” he groaned as he hid his face in the pillow.

“Have you been here all the time?” he asked Amanda when she brought him his gruel later in the day.

“Yes, off an’ on, when I could get away from my own work.”