" It comes more from experience than from study-
ing," he replied, but in spite of the smile, a trace of



THE DISTANT FRIENDS ARE STIRRING. 293

eadness could be seen on his face. Now came before
his eyes the suffering face of a man who always sat
like this in a chair, being mutilated and unable to
use his limbs. It was his captain, whom he had
found lying on the ground in this state after a hot
battle in Sicily, and had carried from the field, and
who afterwards would only have him as his nurse
and would not let him go, until his bitter suffering
came to an end. The TJncle saw his sick captain
before him again. He could not help thinking that
it was his duty to take care of sick Clara and to
show her all the tender attentions which he under-
stood so well.
The sky stretched dark blue and cloudless over
the hut, the fir trees, and wide over the lofty cliffs
which towered high up, sparkling in gray hue.
Clara could not look around her enough. She was
in perfect rapture with all she saw.
