"You see, it's this way," he went on eagerly. "It's all right in the summer time, when you can get out of doors, and the weather is pleasant, like it is now. But in the winter time--_that's_ when it gets lonesome! The snow'll be eight feet deep all around here. We have to go on snow shoes all the winter through. Now, if we was shut in here alone together--or if you was shut in here all by yourself, and still lonesomer, me being over in the other house mostly--the evenings would seem awful long. They always used to, to me." She could not answer at all. A terrible picture was coming before her. He struggled on. "If that Annie Squires girl came out here, she'd be a lot of help. But how can you tell whether she'd stay all winter? That's the trouble with women folks--you can't tell what they'll do. She wouldn't want to stay here long unless she was settled down some way, would she? She ain't married, like you, ma'am. She might get restless, like enough, wouldn't she?" "I don't know," said Mary Gage, suddenly turning away. She felt a vast cloud settling down upon her. Ten days? She had been married ten days! What would ten years mean? "I wish I didn't have to think at all," said she, her lips trembling. "So do I, ma'am," said Sim Gage to his lawful wedded wife with engaging candor. "I sure do wish that." CHAPTER XXIV ANNIE MOVES IN The hum of a motor at the gate brought Mary Gage to the window once more, the third morning after Doctor Barnes' visit. It was Doctor Barnes now, she knew. She could not see that he now helped out of the car a passenger who looked about her curiously, more especially at the figure of Sim Gage who, hands in pockets, stood gazing at them as they drove into the yard. "Listen," said Doctor Barnes under his breath to the young woman, "that's the man--that's Sim Gage. Don't show surprise, and don't talk. Remember what I've told you. For God's sake, play the game!" Sim Gage slowly approached the car, and the doctor accosted him. "This is Miss Squires, Mr. Gage," said he, "the young woman we have been expecting." "Pleased to meet you," said Sim, after the fashion of his extremest social formality. And then, in a burst of welcome, "How'd you like it, coming out?" "Fine!" said Annie, dusting off her frock. "Lovely." She paid no attention to Sim Gage's words, "Go right on in. She's anxious to see you," but hurried on, muttering to herself, "Ain't it the limit? And her blind!" She stopped for an instant at the door, staring into the dim interior, then with a cry rushed in. Mary, stone blind, stood staring, trembling. The two met in swift embrace, mingled their tears. "Oh, Mary, it can't be!" said Annie after a time. "It will get well, won't it? Say, now--your eyes will come back, won't they? How did you get here--what did you do? And you're married!" "Yes," said Mary Gage, "that's true."