“And then what?” queried Freckles breathlessly.

“Why, then,” said McLean, “you know that my heart is hopelessly in the woods.  I never will quit the timber business while there is timber to handle and breath in my body.  I thought if you didn’t make a profession of music, and had any inclination my way, we would stretch the partnership one more and take you into the firm, placing your work with me.  Those plans may sound jumbled in the telling, but they have grown steadily on me, Freckles, as you have grown dear to me.”

Freckles lifted anxious and eager eyes to McLean.

“You told me once on the trail, and again when we thought that I was dying, that you loved me.  Do these things that have come to me make any difference in any way with your feeing toward me?”

“None,” said McLean.  “How could they, Freckles?  Nothing could make me love you more, and you never will do anything that will make me love you less.”

“Glory be to God!” cried Freckles.  “Glory to the Almighty!  Hurry and be telling your mother I’m coming!  Just as soon as I can get on me feet I’ll be taking that ring to me Angel, and then I’ll go to Grand Rapids and be making me start just as you planned, only that I can be paying me own way.  When I’m educated enough, we’ll all—­the Angel and her father, the Bird Woman, you, and me—­all of us will go together and see me house and me relations and be taking that trip.  When we get back, we’ll add O’More to the Lumber Company, and golly, sir, but we’ll make things hum!  Good land, sir!  Don’t do that!  Why, Mr. McLean, dear Boss, dear father, don’t be doing that!  What is it?”

“Nothing, nothing!” boomed McLean’s deep bass; “nothing at all!”

He abruptly turned, and hurried to the window.

“This is a mighty fine view,” he said.  “Lake’s beautiful this morning.  No wonder Chicago people are so proud of their city’s location on its shore.  But, Freckles, what is Lord O’More going to say to this?”

“I don’t know,” said Freckles.  “I am going to be cut deep if he cares, for he’s been more than good to me, and Lady Alice is next to me Angel.  He’s made me feel me blood and race me own possession.  She’s talked to me by the hour of me father and mother and me grandmother.  She’s made them all that real I can lay claim to them and feel that they are mine.  I’m very sorry to be hurting them, if it will, but it can’t be changed.  Nobody ever puts the width of the ocean between me and the Angel.  From here to the Limberlost is all I can be bearing peaceable.  I want the education, and then I want to work and live here in the country where I was born, and where the ashes of me father and mother rest.

“I’ll be glad to see Ireland, and glad especial to see those little people who are my kin, but I ain’t ever staying long.  All me heart is the Angel’s, and the Limberlost is calling every minute.  You’re thinking, sir, that when I look from that window I see the beautiful water, ain’t you?  I’m not.