Hearts And Other Hearts

Stephen had brought a change of clothes, as he had a habit of being ducked
once at least during the day; and since there was a halt in the proceedings
and no need of his services for an hour or two, he found Rose and walked with
her to a secluded spot where they could watch the logs and not be seen by the
people.

"You frightened everybody almost to death, jumping into the river," chided
Rose.

Stephen laughed. "They thought I was a fool to save a fool, I suppose."

"Perhaps not as bad as that, but it did seem reckless."

"I know; and the boy, no doubt, would be better off dead; but so should I be,
if I could have let him die."

Rose regarded this strange point of view for a moment, and then silently
acquiesced in it. She was constantly doing this, and she often felt that her
mental horizon broadened in the act; but she could not be sure that Stephen
grew any dearer to her because of his moral altitudes.

"Besides," Stephen argued, "I happened to be nearest to the river, and it was
my job."

"How do you always happen to be nearest to the people in trouble, and why is
it always your 'job'?"

"If there are any rewards for good conduct being distributed, I'm right in