# XVII explained — Freckles > Chapter companion for Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter. ## What happens Freckles is critically injured while saving the Angel from a falling tree. In the hospital, surgeons reveal that he is dying not from his wounds but from a lack of will to live. The Angel, having learned of his true identity and her own love for him, rushes to his bedside to offer the hope that may save him. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Sacrifice Freckles risks his life to save the Angel, and the Angel later offers her love to give him a reason to live. ### Courage and Perseverance Freckles' heroic dash to save the Angel and his struggle to survive despite his injuries. ## Character check-ins ### Freckles Lies on the operating table after being crushed by the tree; his will to live is failing. ### The Angel Rescued by Freckles; she later learns of his love and her own feelings, and rushes to his bedside. ### Mr. McLean Oversees the tree felling, carries the Angel to nurses, and desperately seeks a way to save Freckles. ### Duncan Helps dig the Angel out from under the fallen tree. ## Key lines > He need not die from the accident, yet he is dying as fast as his splendid physical condition will permit, and it is because he so evidently prefers death to life. The surgeon explains that Freckles' injuries are not fatal, but his lack of desire to live is causing his decline. _The surgeon diagnoses Freckles' psychological state as the true threat to his life._ > My father is never unreasonable. He won’t expect me not to love Freckles, or not to tell him so, if the telling will save him. The Angel decides that her father would approve of her confessing her love to Freckles if it might save his life. _The Angel resolves to overcome her fear and offer Freckles the hope he needs._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/freckles_se/chapters/xvii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/freckles_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/freckles_se/chapters