Mollyremainedsilent。
　　Herauntlookedslowlyupather。“Hasamanlikethatpresumed——“
　　“He’snotabitlikethat。Yes，he’sexactlylikethat，“saidMolly。Andshewouldhavesnatchedthephotographaway，butherauntretainedit。“Well，“shesaid，“Isupposetherearedayswhenhedoesnotkillpeople。“
　　“Heneverkilledanybody！“AndMollylaughed。
　　“Areyouseriously——“saidtheoldlady。
　　“Ialmostmight——attimes。Heisperfectlysplendid。“
　　“Mydear，youhavefalleninlovewithhisclothes。“
　　“It’snothisclothes。AndI’mnotinlove。Heoftenwearsothers。Hewearsawhitecollarlikeanybody。“
　　“Thenthatwouldbeamoresuitablewaytobephotographed，I
　　think。Hecouldn’tgoroundlikethathere。Icouldnotreceivehimmyself。“
　　“He’dneverthinkofsuchathing。Why，youtalkasifhewereasavage。“
　　Theoldladystudiedthepicturecloselyforaminute。“Ithinkitisagoodface，“shefinallyremarked。“Isthefellowashandsomeasthat，mydear？“
　　Moreso，Mollythought。Andwhowashe，andwhatwerehisprospects？weretheaunt’snextinquiries。Sheshookherheadattheanswerswhichshereceived；andshealsoshookherheadoverherniece’semphaticdenialthatherheartwaslosttothisman。
　　Butwhentheirpartingcame，theoldladysaid:“Godblessyouandkeepyou，mydear。I’llnottrytomanageyou。Theymanagedme——“
　　Asighspoketherestofthissentence。“ButI’mnotworriedaboutyou——atleast，notverymuch。YouhaveneverdoneanythingthatwasnotworthyoftheStarks。Andifyou’regoingtotakehim，doitbeforeIdiesothatIcanbidhimwelcomeforyoursake。Godblessyou，mydear。“
　　AndafterthegirlhadgonebacktoBennington，thegreat-aunthadthisthought:“Sheislikeusall。Shewantsamanthatisaman。“Nordidtheoldladybreatheherknowledgetoanymemberofthefamily。Forshewasaloyalspirit，andhergirl’sconfidencewassacredtoher。
　　“Besides，“shereflected，“ifevenIcandonothingwithher，whatamessTHEY’Dmakeofit！Weshouldhearofherelopementnext。“
　　SoMolly’simmediatefamilyneversawthatphotograph，andneverheardawordfromheruponthissubject。ButonthedaythatsheleftforBearCreek，astheysatmissingheranddiscussinghervisitintheevening，Mrs。Bellobserved:“Mother，howdidyouthinkshewas？“——“Ineversawherbetter，Sarah。Thathorribleplaceseemstoagreewithher。“——“Oh，yes，agree。Itseemedtome——“——“Well？“——“Oh，justsomehowthatshewasthinking。“——“Thinking？“——“Well，Ibelieveshehassomethingonhermind。“——“Youmeanaman，“saidAndrewBell——“Aman，Andrew？“——“Yes，Mrs。Wood，that’swhatSarahalwaysmeans。“
　　ItmaybementionedthatSarah’ssurmisesdidnotgreatlycontributetohermother’shappiness。Andrumorissostrangeathingthatpresentlyfromthemaliciousoutsideaircameavagueanddreadfulword——oneofthosewordsthatcannotbetracedtoitssource。SomebodysaidtoAndrewBellthattheyheardMissMollyWoodwasengagedtomarryaRUSTLER。
　　“Heavens，Andrew！“saidhiswife；“whatisarustler？“
　　Itwasnotinanydictionary，andcurrenttranslationsofitwereinconsistent。AmanatHoosicFallssaidthathehadpassedthroughCheyenne，andheardthetermappliedinacomplimentarywaytopeoplewhowerealiveandpushing。Anothermanhadalwayssupposeditmeantsomekindofhorse。Butthemostalarmingversionofallwasthatarustlerwasacattlethief。
　　Nowthetruthisthatallthesemeaningswereright。Thewordranasortofprogressinthecattlecountry，gatheringmanymeaningsasitwent。Itgatheredmore，however，inBennington。Inaveryfewdays，gossiphaditthatMollywasengagedtoagambler，agoldminer，anescapedstagerobber，andaMexicanbandit；whileMrs。FlyntfearedshehadmarriedaMormon。
　　AlongBearCreek，however，Mollyandher“rustler“tookaridesoonafterherreturn。Theywereneithermarriednorengaged，andshewastellinghimaboutVermont。
　　“Ineverwasthere，“saidhe。“Neverhappenedtostrikeinthatdirection。“
　　“Whatdecidedyourdirection？“
　　“Oh，lookingforchances。IreckonImusthavebeenmoreambitiousthanmybrothers——ormorerestless。Theystayedaroundonfarms。ButIgotout。WhenIwentbackagainsixyearsafterward，Iwastwenty。Theywastalkingaboutthesameoldthings。Menoftwenty-fiveandthirty——yetjustsittin’andtalkin’aboutthesameoldthings。ItoldmymotheraboutwhatI’dseenhereandthere，andshelikedit，righttoherdeath。
　　Buttheothers——well，whenIfoundthiswholeworldwashawgsandturkeystothem，withalittlegunnin’aftehsmallgamethrowedin，Iputonmyhatonemawnin’andtold’emmaybewhenIwasfiftyI’dlookinon’emagaintoseeifthey’dgotanynewsubjects。Butthey’llnever。Mybrothersdon’tseemtowantchances。“
　　“Youhavelostagoodmanyyourself，“saidMolly。
　　“That’scorrect。“
　　“Andyet，“saidshe，“sometimesIthinkyouknowagreatdealmorethanIevershall。“
　　“Why，ofcourseIdo，“saidhe，quitesimply。“IhaveearnedmylivingsinceIwasfourteen。Andthat’sfromoldMexicotoBritishColumbia。Ihaveneverstolenorbeggedacent。I’dnotwantyu’toknowwhatIknow。“
　　Shewaslookingathim，halflisteningandhalfthinkingofhergreat-aunt。
　　“Iamnotlosingchancesanymore，“hecontinued。“AndyouarethebestI’vegot。“
　　ShewasnotsorrytohaveGeorgieTaylorcomegallopingalongatthismomentandjointhem。ButtheVirginiansworeprofanelyunderhisbreath。Andonthisridenothingmorehappened。
　　Lovehadbeensnowboundformanyweeks。Beforethisimprisonmentitscoursehadrunneithersmoothnorrough，sofaraseyecouldsee；ithadruneithernotatall，or，asanundercurrent，deepoutofsight。Intheirrides，intheirtalks，lovehadbeendumb，astospokenwordsatleast；fortheVirginianhadsethimselfaheavytaskofsilenceandofpatience。Then，wherewinterbarredhisvisitstoBearCreek，andtherewasforthewhilenoranchworkorresponsibilitytofillhisthoughtsandbloodwithaction，hesethimselfataskmuchlighter。Often，insteadofShakespeareandfiction，schoolbookslayopenonhiscabintable；andpenmanshipandspellinghelpedthehourstopass。Manysheetsofpaperdidhefillwithvariousexercises，andMrs。
　　Henrygavehimherassistanceinadviceandcorrections。
　　“Ishallpresentlybeinlovewithhimmyself，“shetoldtheJudge。“Andit’stimeforyoutobecomeanxious。
　　“Iamperfectlysafe，“heretorted。“There’sonlyonewomanforhimanymore。“
　　“Sheisnotgoodenoughforhim，“declaredMrs。Henry。“Buthe’llneverseethat。“
　　Sothesnowfell，theworldfroze，andthespelling-booksandexerciseswenton。ButthiswasnottheonlycaseofeducationwhichwasprogressingattheSunkCreekRanchwhilelovewassnowbound。
　　OnemorningScipioleMoyneenteredtheVirginian’ssittingroom——thatapartmentwhereDr。MacBridehadwrestledwithsinsocourageouslyallnight。
　　TheVirginiansatathisdesk。Openbookslayaroundhim；ahalf-finishedpieceofwritingwasbeneathhisfist；hisfingerswerecoatedwithink。Educationenvelopedhim，itmaybesaid。
　　Buttherewasnoneinhiseye。Thatwasuponthewindow，lookingfaracrossthecoldplain。
　　TheforemandidnotmovewhenScipiocamein，andthishumorousspiritsmiledtohimself。“It’sBearCreekhe’shavin’avisionof，“heconcluded。Butheknewinstantlythatthiswasnotso。
　　TheVirginianwaslookingatsomethingreal，andScipiowenttothewindowtoseeforhimself。
　　“Well，“hesaid，havingseen，“whenishegoingtoleaveus？
　　Theforemancontinuedlookingattwohorsemenridingtogether。
　　Theirshapes，smallinthedistance，showedblackagainsttheuniversalwhiteness。
　　“Whend’yu’figurehe’llleaveus？“repeatedScipio。
　　“He，“murmuredtheVirginian，alwayswatchingthedistanthorsemen；andagain，“he。“
　　Scipiosprawleddown，familiarly，acrossachair。HeandtheVirginianhadcometoknoweachotherverywellsincethatfirstmeetingatMedora。Theywerebirdsmanyofwhosefeatherswerethesame，andtheVirginianoftentalkedtoScipiowithoutreserve。Consequently，ScipionowunderstoodthosetwosyllablesthattheVirginianhadpronouncedpreciselyasthoughthesentenceswhichlaybetweenthemhadbeenfullyexpressed。
　　“Hm，“heremarked。“Well，onewillbeagain，andtheotherwon’tbenoloss。“
　　“PoorShorty！“saidtheVirginian。“Poorfool！“
　　Scipiowaslesscompassionate。“No，“hepersisted，“Iain’tsorryforhim。AnymanoldenoughtohavehaironhisfaceoughttoseethroughTrampas。“
　　TheVirginianlookedoutofthewindowagain，andwatchedShortyandTrampasastheyrodeinthedistance。“Shortyiskindtoanimals，“hesaid。“HehasgentledthathawssPedroheboughtwithhisfirstmoney。Gentledhimwonderful。Whenamaniskindtodumbanimals，Ialwayssayhehadgotsomegoodinhim。“
　　“Yes，“Scipioreluctantlyadmitted。“Yes。ButIalwaysdidhateafool。“
　　“Thishyehisamightycruelcountry，“pursuedtheVirginian。“Toanimalsthatis。Thinkofit！Thinkwhatwedotohundredsan’
　　thousandsoflittlecalves！Throw’emdown，brand’em，cut’em，earmark’em，turn’emloose，andontothenext。Ithasgottobe，ofcourse。ButIsaythis。Ifamancangojammin’hotironsontolittlecalvesandslicin’piecesoff’emwithhisknife，andlivealong，keepin’akindnessforanimalsinhisheart，hehasgotsomegoodinhim。Andthat’swhatShortyhasgot。Butheislettin’Trampasgetaholdofhim，andbothofthemwillleaveus。“AndtheVirginianlookedoutacrossthehugewinterwhitenessagain。ButtheridershadnowvanishedbehindsomefoothillsScipiosatsilent。Hehadneverputthesethoughtsaboutmenandanimalstohimself，andwhentheywereputtohim，hesawthattheyweretrue。
　　“Queer，“heobservedfinally“What？“
　　“Everything。“
　　“Nothing’squeer，“statedtheVirginian，“exceptmarriageandlightning。Themtwooccurrencescanstillgivemeasensationofsurprise。“
　　“Allthesameitisqueer，“Scipioinsisted“Well，lethergoatme。“
　　“Why，Trampas。Hedoneyoudirt。Youpassthatover。Youcouldhavefiredhim，butyoulethimstayandkeephisjob。That’sgoodness。Andbadnessisresultin’fromit，straight。Badnessrightfromgoodness。“
　　“You’reoffthetrailawholelot，“saidtheVirginian“WhichsideamIoff，then？“
　　“North，south，east，andwest。Firstpoint。Ididn’texpecttodoTrampasanygoodbynotkillin’him，whichIcameprettyneardoin’threetimes。NorIdidn’texpecttodoTrampasanygoodbylettin’himkeephisjob。ButIamforemanofthisranch。AndI
　　cansitandtellallmentotheirface:’Iwasabovethatmeanness。’Pointtwo:itain’tanyGOODNESS，itisTRAMPASthatbadnesshasresultedfrom。Puthimanywhereanditwillbethesame。Puthimundermyeye，andIcanfollowhismovesalittle，anyway。Youhavenoticed，maybe，thatsinceyouandIrunontothatdeadPolledAnguscow，thatwasstillwarmwhenwegottoher，wehavefoundnomorecowsdeadofsuddendeath。Wecamemightyclosetocatchin’whoeveritwasthatkilledthatcowandranhercalfofftohisownbunch。Hewasn’ttenminutesaheadofus。Wecanprovenothin’；andheknowsthatjustaswellaswedo。Butourcowshaveallquitdyin’ofsuddendeath。AndTrampashe’sgettin’readyforachangeofresidence。Assoonasalltheoutfitsbeginhirin’newhandsinthespring，Trampaswillleaveusandtakeajobwithsomeofthem。Andmaybeourcows’llcommencegettin’killedagain，andwe’llhavetotakestepsthatwillbemoreemphatic——maybe。“
　　Scipiomeditated。“Iwonderwhatkillin’amanfeelslike？“hesaid。
　　“Why，nothingtobotheryu’——whenhe’doughttohavebeenkilled。
　　Nextpoint:Trampashe’lltakeShortywithhim，whichiscertainlybadforShorty。Butit’smethathaskeptShortyoutofharm’swaythislong。IfIhadfiredTrampas，he’dhaveworkedShortyintodissatisfactionthatmuchsooner。“
　　Scipiomeditatedagain。“IknowedTrampaswouldpullhisfreight，“hesaid。“ButIdidn’tthinkofShorty。Whatmakesyouthinkit？“
　　“Heaskedmeforaraise。“
　　“Heain’tworththepayhe’sgettingnow。’
　　“Trampashastoldhimdifferent。“
　　“Whenamanain’tgotnoideasofhisown，“saidScipio，“he’doughttobekindo’carefulwhoheborrows’emfrom。“
　　“That’smightycorrect，“saidtheVirginian。“PoorShorty！Hehastoldmeabouthislife。Itissorrowful。Andhewillnevergetwise。Itwastoolateforhimtogetwisewhenhewasborn。D’
　　yu’knowwhyhe’safterhigherwages？HesendsmostallhismoneyEast。“
　　“Idon’tseewhatTrampaswantshimfor，“saidScipio。
　　“Oh，ahandytoolsomeday。“
　　“Notveryhandy，“saidScipio。