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and took wing like birds startled from their nests。
V。
〃Nor scour the seas； nor sift mankind；
A poet or a friend to find：
Behold； he watches at the door！
Behold his shadow on the floor！〃
Emerson's _Saadi。_
Lyddy Butterfield's hen turkey was of a roving disposition。
She had never appreciated her luxurious country quarters in Edgewood； and was
seemingly anxious to return to the modest back yard in her native city。
At any rate； she was in the habit of straying far from home； and the habit
was growing upon her to such an extent that she would even lead her docile
little gobblers down to visit Anthony Croft's hens and share their corn。
Lyddy had caught her at it once； and was now pursuing her to that
end for the second time。 She paused in front of the house；
but there were no turkeys to be seen。 Could they have wandered up
the hill road；the discontented； 〃traipsing；〃 exasperating things？
She started in that direction； when she heard a crash in the Croft kitchen；
and then the sound of a boy's voice coming from an inner room；
a weak and querulous voice； as if the child were ill。
She drew nearer； in spite of her dread of meeting people；
or above all of intruding； and saw Anthony Croft standing over the stove；
with an expression of utter helplessness on his usually placid face。
She had never really seen him before in the daylight；
and there was something about his appearance that startled her。
The teakettle was on the floor； and a sea of water was flooding
the man's feet； yet he seemed to be gazing into vacancy。
Presently he stooped； and fumbled gropingly for the kettle。
It was too hot to be touched with impunity； and he finally left it
in a despairing sort of way； and walked in the direction of a shelf；
from under which a row of coats was hanging。 The boy called again in a
louder and more insistent tone； ending in a whimper of restless pain。
This seemed to make the man more nervous than ever。
His hands went patiently over and over the shelf； then paused
at each separate nail。
〃Bless the poor dear！〃 thought Lyddy。 〃Is he trying to find
his hat； or what is he trying to do？ I wonder if he is music mad？〃
and she drew still nearer the steps。
At this moment he turned and came rapidly toward the door。
She looked straight in his face。 There was no mistaking it：
he was blind。 The magician who had told her through his violin
secrets that she had scarcely dreamed of； the wizard who had set
her heart to throbbing and aching and longing as it had never
throbbed and ached and longed before； the being who had worn a halo
of romance and genius to her simple mind； was stone…blind！ A wave
of impetuous anguish； as sharp and passionate as any she had ever
felt for her own misfortunes； swept over her soul at the spectacle
of the man's helplessness。 His sightless eyes struck her like a blow。
But there was no time to lose。 She was directly in his path：
if she stood still he would certainly walk over her； and if she
moved he would hear her； so； on the spur of the moment； she gave
a nervous cough and said； 〃Good…morning； Mr。 Croft。〃
He stopped short。 〃Who is it？〃 he asked。
〃I amit isI amyour new neighbor；〃 said Lyddy；
with a trembling attempt at cheerfulness。
〃Oh； Miss Butterfield！ I should have called up to see
you before this if it hadn't been for the boy's sickness。
But I am a good…for…nothing neighbor； as you have doubtless heard。
Nobody expects anything of me。〃
（〃Nobody expects anything of me。〃 Her own plaint；
uttered in her own tone！）
〃I don't know about that；〃 she answered swiftly。
〃You've given me； for one； a great deal of pleasure with your
wonderful music。 I often hear you as you play after supper；
and it has kept me from being lonesome。 That isn't very much；
to be sure。〃
〃You are fond of music； then？〃
〃I didn't know I was； I never heard any before；〃 said Lyddy simply；
〃but it seems to help people to say things they couldn't say for themselves；
don't you think so？ It comforts me even to hear it； and I think it must
be still more beautiful to make it。〃
Now； Lyddy Ann Butterfield had no sooner uttered this
commonplace speech than the reflection darted through
her mind like a lightning flash that she had never spoken
a bit of her heart out like this in all her life before。
The reason came to her in the same flash： she was not being
looked at； her disfigured face was hidden。 This man； at least；
could not shrink； turn away； shiver； affect indifference；
fix his eyes on hers with a fascinated horror； as others had done。
Her heart was divided between a great throb of pity and sympathy
for him and an irresistible sense of gratitude for herself。
Sure of protection and comprehension； her lovely soul
came out of her poor eyes and sat in the sunshine。
She spoke her mind at ease； as we utter sacred things sometimes
under cover of darkness。
〃You seem to have had an accident； what can I do to help you？〃 she asked。
〃Nothing； thank you。 The boy has been sick for some days；
but he seems worse since last night。 Nothing is in its right
place in the house； so I have given up trying to find anything；
and am just going to Edgewood to see if somebody will help me
for a few days。〃
〃Uncle Tony！ Uncle To…ny！ where are you？ Do give me another drink；
I'm so hot！〃 came the boy's voice from within。
〃Coming； laddie！ I don't believe he ought to drink so much water；
but what can I do？ He is burning up with fever。〃
〃Now look here； Mr。 Croft；〃 and Lydia's tone was cheerfully decisive。
〃You sit down in that rocker； please； and let me command the ship
for a while。 This is one of the cases where a woman is necessary。
First and foremost； what were you hunting for？〃
〃My hat and the butter；〃 said Anthony meekly；
and at this unique combination they both laughed。
Lyddy's laugh was particularly fresh； childlike； and pleased；
one that would have astonished the Reynolds children。
She had seldom laughed heartily since little Rufus had cried
and told her she frightened him when she twisted her face so。
〃Your hat is in the wood…box； and I'll find the butter in the twinkling
of an eye； though why you want it now is more thanMy patience； Mr。 Croft；
your hand is burned to a blister！〃
〃Don't mind me。 Be good enough to look at the boy and tell
me what ails him； nothing else matters much。〃
〃I will with pleasure； but let me ease you a little first。
Here's a rag that will be just the thing；〃 and Lyddy；
suiting the pretty action to the mendacious worn； took a
good handkerchief from her pocket and tore it in three strips；
after spreading it with tallow from a candle heated over the stove。
This done； she hound up the burned hand skillfully； and； crossing the
dining…room； disappeared within the little chamber door beyond。
She came out presently； and said half hesitatingly；
〃Would youmind going out in the orchard for an hour or so？
You seem to be rather in the way here； and I should like
the place to myself； if you'll excuse me for saying so。
I'm ever so much more capable than Mrs。 Buck； won't you
give me a trial； sir？ Here's your violin and your hat。
I'll call you if you can help or advise me。〃
〃But I can't let a stranger come in and do my housework；〃 he objected。
〃I can't； you know； though I appreciate your kindness all the same。〃
〃I am your nearest neighbor； and your only one； for that matter；〃
said Lyddy firmly； 〃its nothing more than right that I should look after that
sick child； and I must do it。 I haven't got a thing to do in my own house。
I am nothing but a poor lonely old maid； who's been used to children
all her life； and likes nothing better than to work over them。〃
A calm settled upon Anthony's perturbed spirit； as he sat under
the apple…trees and heard Lyddy going to and fro in the cottage。
〃She isn't any old maid；〃 he thought； 〃she doesn't step like one；
she has soft shoes and a springy walk。 She must be a very
handsome woman； with a hand like that； and such a voice！
I knew the moment she spoke that she didn't belong in this village。〃
As a matter of fact； his keen ear had caught the melody in
Lyddy's voice； a voice full of dignity； sweetness； and reserve power。
His sense of touch； too； had captured the beauty of her hand；
and held it in remembrance；the soft palm； the fine skin；
supple fingers； smooth nails； and firm round wrist。
These charms would never have been noted by any seeing
man in Edgewood； but they were revealed to Anthony Croft
while Lyddy； like the good Samaritan； bound up his wounds。
It is these saving stars that light the eternal darkness
of the blind。
Lyddy thought she had met her Waterloo when； with arms akimbo；
she gazed about the Croft establishment； which was a scene
of desolation for the moment。 Anthony's cousin from
Bridgton was in the habit of visiting him every two months
for a solemn h