Chapter IX

           FreckleswashalfwaytotheLimberlostwhenhedismounted.Hecouldridenofarther,becausehecouldnotseetheroad.Hesatunderatree,and,leaningagainstit,sobsshook,twisted,andrenthim.Iftheywouldremindhimofhisposition,speakcondescendingly,ornoticehishand,hecouldendureit,butthis—itsurelywouldkillhim!Hishot,pulsingIrishbloodwasstirreddeeply.Whatdidtheymean?Whydidtheydoit?Weretheylikethattoeveryone?Wasitpity?

           Itcouldnotbe,forheknewthattheBirdWomanandtheAngel’sfathermustknowthathewasnotreallyMcLean’sson,anditdidnotmattertothemintheleast.Inspiteofaccidentandpoverty,theyevidentlyexpectedhimtodosomethingworthwhileintheworld.Thatmustbehisremedy.Hemustworkonhiseducation.Hemustgetaway.HemustfindanddothegreatthingofwhichtheAngeltalked.Forthefirsttime,histhoughtsturnedanxiouslytowardthecityandthebeginningofhisstudies.McLeanandtheDuncansspokeofhimas“theboy,”buthewasaman.Hemustfacelifebravelyandactaman’spart.TheAngelwasamerechild.Hemustnotallowhertotorturehimpastendurancewithherfrankcomradeshipthatmeanttohimhighheaven,earth’srichness,andallthatlaybetween,andNOTHINGtoher.

           Therewasanominousgrowlofthunder,andamazedathimself,Frecklessnatcheduphiswheelandracedtowardtheswamp.Hewasworriedtofindhisbootslyingatthecabindoor;thechildrenplayingonthewoodpiletoldhimthat“mither”saidtheyweresoheavyshecouldn’twalkinthem,andshehadcomebackandtakenthemoff.