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Updated: May 12, 2025
Both Doctor Morgan and John Hunter looked over at Hugh sharply, wondering what he could want of Luther, but the sick man closed his eyes as a way of ending the argument. Doctor Morgan dropped his finger on the patient's wrist again and looked at John warningly: "I think I'll be going. You stay with Noland, Hunter. I want a word with Mrs. Hunter before I go. I'll stop at Hansen's, Noland."
He had been appointed Treasurer by Francis after the Noland defalcation, had been elected and had changed his allegiance from Francis to Stone. Mr. Stone, a man with somewhat of the scholarly taint to him, inclined to think, but prone to machination, ambitious, vindictive, able, elusive, made Stephens the nominee, and has been "sore at himself" ever since. Stephens is a National banker.
They were Sue Barnes, whom Hugh usually counted on as his partner when any dance was given in the country, or at singing-school during the winter evenings; Ivy Middleton, Thad's choice for company, because she was both jolly and genial; and pretty Peggy Noland, whom Owen Dugdale liked, as had also Nick Lang, though the latter had of late been badly snubbed by the scornful Peggy because she could not stand for his rowdy ways.
They sat about the table and listened to Doctor Morgan's remarks and the reading of the important document. "I have," Doctor Morgan began, "a letter from Mr. Noland written the day before his death, in which he tells me that he has made a will of which I am to be made the sole executor.
He was accustomed to signs of hopelessness when his case was discussed, and was unmoved by them. "Have you family ties?" the doctor asked. He liked the grit this man's manner indicated. "None that need to be counted," was the brief reply. The doctor noticed that his patient wasted no extra words in self-pity. "That's good! It lessens a man's worries. And where are you staying, Mr. Noland?"
"It's fifteen years since I've been at 'a killing, and I feel as if I were ten years old again," Noland said as he watched the hard earth give way under the mattock Luther wielded. "Go hunt a straw in that case, and I'll see that you get the bladder. Shall I save you the pig's tail?" Luther said as he settled the barrel into the cavity.
John Hunter had been vexed at Elizabeth for the sangfroid with which she had walked away from established custom in ordering the team prepared for her to be taken to Nathan's, but with Noland present he had accepted it without remark. Here was a man before whom John would always, but instinctively rather than premeditatively, endeavour to show his best side.
John was coming in the morning, and Hugh was to meet him, and Hugh Noland did not like himself, nor the position he would be in when he thought of greeting John Hunter as a friend. The better to think things out and decide what he would do, Hugh sat down on the doorstep and did not go in. The night was perfect.
Until now she had gone along night after night reading with Hugh Noland, absorbed in the books, and without any sort of attitude toward the man except that of good-fellowship, but now she stood revealed to herself and was covered with shame.
"I am an uncertain quantity, as I have told you, with this heart, and I could not be worried with debts." Elizabeth did not look at him this time, but he saw the look of satisfaction and heard her indrawn breath. And now the really lovable side of Hugh Noland began to show out. Feeling now that he was a real member of the family, he began to give himself to its pleasing features.
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