The vicinity appeared as if never before visited, and there was an abundance of dead and decaying wood lying about. When she had secured a large quantity of this she came and sat down by the fire, and said, "I will take a little supper now, and then it will be so dark that we can signal in some other way." "Madge," said Graydon, earnestly, "it has cut me to the heart to lie helplessly here and see you doing work so unsuitable." "Nothing could be more suitable under the circumstances. You do think we shall be found soon? Oh, I'm so worried about you!" "More, then, than I am about myself. I shall have to play invalid for some time. Won't you be my nurse occasionally?" "Yes, Graydon, all I can." "Why, then, don't worry about me at all. The prospect makes me fairly happy. Come, now, eat the whole of that sandwich." She complied, looking thoughtfully into the fire meanwhile. By the light of the flickering blaze he saw the trouble and worry pass from her brow and the expression of her face grow as quiet and contented as that of a child's. At last she said, "Well, this does seem cosey and companionable, in spite of everything. There, forgive me, Graydon; I forgot for the moment that you were in pain." "Was I? I forgot it, too. Sitting there in the firelight, you suggested the sweetest picture I ever hope to see." "You can't be _in extremis_ when you begin to compliment." "Don't you wish to know what the picture was?" "Oh, yes, if it will help you pass the time!" "I saw you sitting by a hearth, and I thought, 'If that hearth were mine it would be the loveliest picture the world had known.' Now you see what an egotist I am. You look so enchanting in that firelight that I cannot resist--I would try so hard to be worthy of you, Madge. Make your own terms again, as I said once to you before." "My own terms?" she repeated, turning a sudden and searching glance upon him. "Then tell me, did you hear what I said this afternoon when I first found you?" He hesitated a moment, and then said, firmly: "Yes, every word; but, Madge, you must not punish me for what I could not help. It would not be right." "Could you hear me and yet--" "I could hear you and yet could not move a muscle until you fainted, and then my intense mental excitement and solicitude must have broken the paralysis caused by the shock of my fall. Oh, Madge, look at me! Only a false pride can come between us now. My love is not worthy to be compared with yours, but it is genuine, and it will--it _will_ last as long as I do. I shall bless this accident and all the pain I must suffer if they bring you to me."