I lay back on the soft cushions my mind roved off on the strange turn things had took, and I wondered if it wuz the atmosphere of my strong desire and good-*will to help her that had stimulated Fidelia to use a little common-sense; for I had not said a word to her about her affairs and Alcanderses. I knew that high, clear mountain air would do wonders for sick folks in a short time, and I knew that my will to help her towered up perfectly mountainous and high, and I spoze mebby it braced her up. We mortals are such strange creeters anyway that we can't really understand how things be thus and so. But, 'tennyrate, as we rolled along the pleasant country roads, under trees orange and scarlet and gold-colored, sweet with the birds' late songs, out into sunny stretches of open country roads, sun-glorified, and further embellished on either side by cozy homesteads and loftier mansions, and anon long green meadows stretchin' away to green woods and tree-covered hills, with a tender haze hangin' about 'em—as our phaeton rolled noiselessly on through the soft, sweet Injun-summer air, Fidelia's cheeks got to lookin' considerable pink, and her faded eyes brightened up considerable, and her faculties seemed to sort o' wake up, and she acted brighter than I had seen her act for upwards of ten years.
Well, supper wuz all ready when we got home. Fidelia had only jest time to go to her room and pin a pink bow onto the bosom of her dress, but I don't know when I have seen her look so well. Alcander noticed it in a minute. He looked quite admirin' at her; and though the steak might not have been so delicious as Fidelia's, yet her directions had been carried out, and it wuz good enough. 'Tennyrate, Alcander seemed to
