“Oh, they weren’t cooked. Just nicely brown. Underdone if anything.” She cackled; you felt that this was something which she must regard as a joke, because there were so few jokes in the world. “And swear. Like two troopers. He’s been swearing about the war ever since it began; should have been in the calaboose for it, if you want my honest opinion … But that happened two weeks ago, and Elijah’s had to drive old Salt for him and wait on him generally.”

Dan said, “I meant to ask about Elijah. He was in my mind, but I did not ask Ty Fanning because they’ve never been friends.”

“And now, of all times,” nodded Mrs. Duffey. “Elijah’s eaten up with jealousy of Tyler Fanning.”

Amelia Niede said, without much emotion, “He is not.”

The gray bonnet bobbed around. “Well, we hear from you at last, Mealy. Don’t you mind her, Dan. She’s downright glad Elijah Huddlestone can’t get into the army. He’s her young man, you know.”

“He is not,” said Amelia.

“I’ll go back and sit with Fanning,” Bale told them. “I’d be pleased to help you home with your things, when we get there.”

Eva blinked. “Elijah’ll be at the depot with the carryall, and maybe Doctor, too. If he isn’t, I’ll feel like scorching his breeches for him. You can ride up with us.”

“They’ll know, of course, if Grandfather—”

“Don’t you worry, honey,” said the woman. The words squirted out as if she had been holding them back for a long time. “Pent Bale is an old man and a good man, and he has nothing to fear from God. I guess he’s been pretty lonely, and Adam says he’s glad to go.”

“I would be,” said Bale, “with a cancer.” She clawed at his hand … He went back to sit beside Fanning.

The young captain opened his eyes—half-opened them and squinted at him—the lids were rimmed with a weary pink. “You had quite a confabulation with Mrs. Duffey. Who’s the lady with her?”

“Amelia Niede.”

“Oh, yes. She’s not bad looking, for a German girl. She goes about with young Huddlestone. Remember young Huddlestone?”

Dan said, “Young? He’s a year older than you. Yes, we were good friends.”

“He has a rupture or something,” Ty told him. “And a bad heart. Can’t get into the army. Too bad.” He dropped his cigar to the floor and squeezed it into a soggy puddle beneath the sole of his boot. Then he drew the slouch hat over his forehead and closed his eyes. Opened them once more to look at Daniel Bale and say, “I could get there quicker, walking. Plague this train. Demon will be at the depot, if they got my telegram. We’ll drop you off at your grandfather’s.”

“Doctor Duffey may be there, with Huddlestone.”