CHAPTER IX
MID-SUMMER
Since our arrival from Westchester the weather had been more or lessunsettled--fog, rain, chilling winds alternating with days of midsummerheat. But now the exhausting temperature of July remained constant;fiery days of sunshine were succeeded by nights so hot and suffocatingthat life seemed well-nigh insupportable under tents or in barracks,and officers and men, almost naked, lay panting along the river bankthrough the dreadful hours of darkness which brought no relief from thefiery furnace of the day.
Schott's riflemen mounted guard stripped to the waist; the Oneidas andStockbridge scouts strode about unclothed save for the narrow clout andsporran; and all day and all night our soldiers splashed in the riverwhere our horses also stood belly deep, heads hanging, under thewillows.
During that brief but scorching period I went to Mrs. Rannock's everyevening after dark, and usually found Lois lying in the open under thestars, the garret being like an oven, so she said.
Here we had made up our quarrel, and here, on the patch of uncutEnglish grass, we lay listlessly, speaking only at intervals, gaspingfor air and coolness, which neither darkness nor stars had brought tothis sun-cursed forest-land.
But for the last two nights I had not found Lois waiting for me, nordid Mrs. Rannock seem to know whither she had gone, which caused memuch uneasiness.
The third evening I went to find her at Mrs. Rannock's before theafter-glow had died from the coppery zenith, and I encountered hermoving toward the Spring path, just entering the massed elder bloom.Her face was dewy with perspiration, pale, and somewhat haggard.
"Lois, why have you avoided me?" I exclaimed. "All manner of vagueforebodings have assailed me these two days past."
"Listen to this silly lad!" she said impatiently. "As though a fewhours' absence lessen loyalty and devotion!"
"But where have you been?"
"Where I may not take you, Euan."
"And where is that?" I asked bluntly.
"Lord! What a catechism is this for a free girl to answer willy-nilly!If you must know, I have played the maid of ancient Greece these twonights past. Otherwise, I had died, I think."
And seeing my perplexed mien, she began to laugh.
"Euan, you are stupid! Did not the Grecian maids spend half their livesin the bath?"
The slight flush of laughter faded from her face; the white fatiguecame back; and she passed the back of one hand wearily across her brow,clearing it of the damp curls.
"The deadly sultriness of these nights," she sighed. "I was no longerable to endure the heat under the eaves among my dusty husks. So latelyI have stolen at night to the Spring Waiontha to bathe in the still,cold pools. Oh, Euan, it is most delicious! I have slept there untildawn, lying up to my throat in the crystal flood." She laughed again."And once, lying so, asleep, my body slipped and in I slid, deep, deepin, and awoke in a dreadful fright half drowned."
"Is it wise to sleep so in the Water?" I asked uneasily.
"Oh! Am I ever wise?" she said wearily. "And the blood beats in myveins these heated nights so that I am like to suffocate. I made a bedfor me by Mrs. Rannock, but she sobbed in her sleep all night and Icould not close my eyes, So I thought of the Spring Waiontha, and thenext instant was on my way there, feeling the path with naked feetthrough the starlight, and dropped my clothing from me in the darknessand sank into the cool, sweet pool. Oh, it was heaven, Euan! I wouldyou might come also."
"I can walk as far as the pool with you, at all events," said I.
"Wonderful! And will you?"
"Do I ever await asking to follow you anywhere?" said I sentimentally.
But she only laughed at me and led the way across the dreary strip ofclearing, moving with a swift confidence in her knowledge of the place,which imitating, I ran foul of a charred stump, and she heard what Isaid.
"Poor lad!" she exclaimed contritely, slipping her hand into mine. "Ishould have guided you. Does it pain you?"
"Not much."
Our hands were clasped, and she pressed mine with all the sweet freedomof a comradeship which means nothing deeper. For I now had learned fromher own lips, sadly enough, how it was with her--how she regarded ourfriendship. It was to her a deep and living thing--a noble emotion, nota passion--a belief founded on gratitude and reason, not a confused,blind longing and delight possessing every waking moment, ever creatingfor itself a thousand tender dreams or fanciful and grotesqueapprehensions.
Clear-headed so far, reasonable in her affection, gay or tender as themood happened, convinced that what I declared to be my love for her wasbut a boy's exaggeration for the same sentiments she entertained towardme, how could she have rightly understood the symptoms of this amazingmalady that possessed me--these reasonless extremes of ardour, ofdejection, of a happiness so keen and thrilling that it painedsometimes, and even at moments seemed to make me almost drunk.
Nor did I myself entirely comprehend what ailed me, never having beenable to imagine myself in love, or ever dreamed that I possessed thecapacity for such a violent devotion to any woman. I think now, at thatperiod, somewhere under all the very real excitement and emotion of anadolescent encountering for the first time the sweet appeal of youthfulmind and body, that I seemed to feel there might be in it all somethingnot imperishable. And caught myself looking furtively and a littlefearfully at her, at times, striving to conceive myself indifferent.
When we came to the Spring Waiontha I had walked straight into thewater except for her, so dark it was around us. And:
"How can you ever get back alone?" said she.
"Oho!" said I, laughing, "I left the willow-tips a-dangle, breakingthem with my left hand. I am woodsman enough to feel my way out."
"But not woodsman enough to spare your shins in the clearing," she saidsaucily.
"Shall we sit and talk?" I said.
"Oh, Euan! And my bath! I am fairly melting as I stand here."
"But I have not seen you for two entire nights, Lois."
"I know, poor boy, but you seem to have survived."
"When I do not see you every day I am most miserable."
"So am I--but I am reasonable, too. I say to myself, if I don't seeEuan today I will nevertheless see him to-morrow, or the day after, orthe next, God willing----"
"Lois!"
"What?"
"How can you reason so coldly?"
"I--reason coldly? There is nothing cold in me where you are concerned.But I have to console myself for not seeing you----"
"I am inconsolable," said I fervently.
"No more than am I," she retorted hotly, as though jealous that Ishould arrogate to myself a warmer feeling concerning her than sheentertained for me.
"I care so much for you, Lois," said I.
"And I for you."
"Not as I care for you."
"Exactly as you care for me. Do you think me insensible to gratitudeand affection?"
"I do not desire your gratitude for a few articles----"
"It isn't for them--though I'm grateful for those things too! It'sgratitude to God for giving me you, Euan Loskiel! And you ought to takeshame to yourself for doubting it!"
I said nothing, being unable to see her in the darkness, much lessperceive what expression she wore for her rebuke to me. Then as I stoodsilent, I felt her little hands groping on my arm; and my own closed onthem and I laid my lips to them.
"Ai-me!" she said softly. "Why do we fight and fret each other? Why doI, who adore you so, let you vex me and stir me to say what I do notmean at all. Always remember, Euan--always, always--that whatever I amunkind enough to say or do to vex you, in my secret mind I know that noother man on earth is comparable to you--and that you reign first in myheart--first, and all by yourself, alone."
"And will you try to love me some day, Lois?"
"I do."
"I mean----"
"Oh, Euan, I do--I do! Only--you know--not in the manner you once spokeof----"
"But I love you in that manner."
"No, you do not! If you did, doubtless I would respond; no doubt at allthat I also would confess such sentiments in your regard. But it isn'ttrue for either of us. You're a man. All men are prone to harp on thosestrings.... But--there is no harmony in them to me.... I know my ownmind, although you say I don't--and--I do know yours, too. And if a dayever comes that neither you nor I are longer able to think clearly andcalmly with our minds, but begin to reason with our emotions, then Ishall consider that we are really entering into a state of love--suchas you sometimes have mentioned to me--and will honestly admit as muchto you.... And if you then desire to wed me, no doubt that I shalldesire it, too. And I promise in that event to love you--oh, to death,Euan!" she said, pressing my hands convulsively. "If ever I love--thatway--it truly will be love! Are you content with what I say?"
"I must be."
"What an ungracious answer! I could beat you soundly for it! Euan, yousometimes vex me so that I could presently push you into that pool....I do not mean it, dearest lad. You know you already have myheart--perhaps only a child's heart yet, though I have seen ages passaway.... And my eyes have known tears.... Perhaps for that reason I amcome out into this new sunshine which you have made for me, to play aschildren play--having never done so in my youth. Bear with me, Euan.You would not want me if there were nothing in me to respond to you. Ifthere ever is, it will not remain silent. But first I want my play-dayin the sunshine you have promised me--the sunlight of a comrade'skindness. Be not too blunt with me. You have my heart, I tell you. Letit lie quiet and safe in your keeping, like some strange, frailchrysalis. I myself know there is a miracle within it; but what thatmiracle may be, I may not guess till it reveals itself."
"I am a fool," I said. "God never before sent any man such a comrade asHe has sent in you to me."
"That was said sweetly and loyally. Thank you. If hearts are to beawakened and won, I think it might be done that way--with such pleasantphrases--given always time."
Presently she withdrew her hands and slipped away from me in the dark.
"Be careful," said I, "or you will slip overboard."
"I mean to presently."
"Then--must I go so soon?"
She did not answer. Once I thought I heard her moving softly, but thesound came from the wrong direction.
"Lois!"
No reply.
"Lois!" I repeated uneasily.
There was a ripple in the pool, silence, then somewhere in the darknessa faint splash.
"Good Lord!" said I. "Have you fallen in?"
"Not fallen in. But I am truly in, Euan. I couldn't endure it anylonger; and you didn't seem to want to go.... So please remain whereyou now are."
"Do you mean to say----" I began incredulously.
And, "Yes, I do!" she said, defiant. "And I think this ought to teachyou what a comrade's perfect confidence can be. Never complain to me ofmy want of trust in you again."
In astonished and uneasy silence, I stood listening. The unseen poolrippled in the darkness with a silvery sound, as though a great fishwere swirling there in the pallid lustre of the stars.
After a while she laughed outright--the light, mischievous laughter ofa child.
"I feel like one of those smooth and lurking naiads which haunt lostpools--or like some ambushed water-sprite meditating malice, and slylyalert to do you a harm. Have a care, else I transform you into a fishand chase you under the water, and pinch and torment you!"
And presently her voice came again from the more distant darknesssomewhere:
"Has the box which you commanded arrived yet, Euan?"
"It is at my hut. A wagon will bring it to you in the morning."
I could hear her clap her wet little hands; and she cried out softly:
"Oh!" and "Oh!" Then she said: "I did not understand at first how muchI wished for everything you offered. Only when I saw the ladies atCroghan's house, as I was coming with my mending from the fort--then Iknew I wanted everything you have bespoken for me.... Everything, dearlad! Oh, you don't know how truly grateful I shall be. No, you don't,Euan! And if the box is really come, when am I going with you to bemade known to Mistress Bleecker?"
"I think it is better that I first bring her to you."
"Would she condescend to come?"
"I think so."
There was a pause. I seated myself. Then the soft and indecisive soundof ripples stirred by an idle hand broke the heated silence.
"You say they all are your good friends?" she remarked thoughtfully.
"I know them all. Lana Helmer I have known intimately since we werechildren."
"Then why is it not better to present me to her first--if you know herso very well?"
"Mrs. Bleecker is older."
"Oh! Is this Miss Helmer then so young?"
"Your age."
"Oh! My age.... And pretty?"
"The world thinks so."
"Oh! And what do you think, Euan?"
"Yes, she is pretty," said I carelessly.
There was a long silence. I sat there, my knees gathered in my arms,staring up at the stars.
Then, faintly came her voice:
"Good-night, Euan."
I rose, laid hold of the willow bush that scraped my shoulders, feltover it until I found the dangling broken branch; stepped forward,groping, until I touched the next broken branch. Then, knowing I was onmy trail, I turned around and called back softly through the darkness:
"Good-night, little Lois!"
"Good-night, and sweet dreams, Euan. I will be dressed and waiting foryou in the morning to go to Mrs. Bleecker, or to receive her as you andshe think fitting.... Is there a looking glass in that same wonder-box?"
"Two, Lois."
"You dear and generous lad!... And are there hair-pegs? Heaven knows ifmy clipped poll will hold them. Anyway, I can powder and patch,and--oh, Euan! Is there lip-red and curd-lily lotion for the skin? Notthat I shall love you any less if there be none----"
"I bespoke of Mr. Hake," said I, laughing, "a full beauty battery, suchas I once saw Betty Schuyler show to Walter Butler, having but thenreceived it from New York. And all I know, Lois, is that it was full ofboxes, jars, and flasks, and smelled like a garden in late June. And ifMr. Hake has not chosen with discretion I shall go South and scalp him!"
"Euan, I adore you!"
"You adore your battery," said I, not convinced.
"That, too. But you more than my mirrors, and my lip-red, and the lilylotion--more than my darling shifts and stays and shoon and gowns!... Ihad never dreamed I could accept them from you. But you had become sodear to me--and I could read you through and through--and found you solike myself--and it gave me a new pleasure to humble my pride to yourdesires. That is how it came about. Also, I saw those ladies.... And Ido not think I shall be great friends with your Lana Helmer--even whenI am fine and brave in gown and powder to face her on equal terms----"
"Lois, what in the world are you babbling?"
"Let me babble, Euan. Never have I been so happy, so content, soexcited yet so confident.... Listen; do you dread tomorrow?"
"I?"
"Yes--that I might not do you honour before your fashionablefriends?... And I say to you, have no fear. If my gowns are truly whatI think they are, I shall conduct without a tremour--particularly ifyour Lana be there, and that careless, rakish friend of yours,Lieutenant Boyd."
"Do you remember what you are to say to Boyd if he seems in any wise tothink he has met you elsewhere?"
"I can avoid a lie and deal with him," she said with calm contempt."But there is not a chance he'd know me in my powder."
There was a silence. Then the unseen water rippled and splashed.
"Poor Euan!" she said. "I wish you might dare swim here in thisheavenly place with me. But we are not god and goddess, and the fabledage is vanished.... Good-night, dear lad.... And one thing more.... Allyou are to me--all you have done for me--don't you understand that Icould not take it from you unless, in my secret heart, I knew that oneday I must be to you all you d
esire--and all I, too, shall learn towish for?"
"It is written," I said unsteadily. "It must come to pass."
"It must come," she said, in the hushed voice of a child who dreams,wide-eyed awake, murmuring of wonders.
I slept on the river-sand, not soundly, for all night long men andhorses splashed in the water all around me, and I was conscious of manypeople stirring, of voices, the dip of paddles, and of the slowbatteaux passing with the wavelets slapping on their bows. Then, thenext I knew--bang! And the morning gun jarred me awake.
I had bathed and dressed, but had not yet breakfasted when one of ourregimental wagons came to take the box to Lois--a fine and noble boxindeed, in its parti-coloured cowhide cover, and a pretty pattern ofbrass nails all over it, making here a star and there a sunburst,around the brass plate engraven with her name: "Lois de Contrecoeur."
Then the wagon drove away, and the Sagamore and I broke bread together,seated in the willow shade, the heat in our bush-hut beinginsupportable.
"No more scalps, Mayaro?" I taunted him, having already inspected theunpleasant trophies behind the hut. "How is this, then? Are the Catsall skinned?"
He smiled serenely. "They have crept westward to lick their scars,Loskiel. A child may safely play in the forest now from the uppercastle and Torloch to the Minnisink."
"Has Amochol gone?"
"To make strong magic for his dead Cats, little brother. The Siwanoishatchets are still sticking in the heads of Hiokatoo's Senecas. Lettheir eight Sachems try to pull them out."
"So you have managed to wound a Seneca or two?"
"Three, Loskiel--but the rifle was one of Sir William's, and carried tothe left, and only a half-ounce ball. My brother Loskiel will makeproper requisition of the Commissary of Issues and draw a weapon fitfor a Mohican warrior."
"Indeed I will," said I, smilingly, knowing well enough that thefour-foot, Indian-trade, smooth bore was no weapon for this warrior;nor was it any kindness in such times as these to so arm our corps ofOneida scouts.
After breakfast I went to the fort and found that Major Parr and hiscommand had come in the night before from their long and very arduousscout beyond the Canajoharrie Castle.
The Major received me, inquiring particularly whether I had contrivedto keep the Sagamore well affected toward our cause; and seemed muchpleased when I told him that this Siwanois and I had practiced the riteof blood-brotherhood.
"Excellent," said he. "And I don't mind admitting to you that I placevery little reliance on the mission Indians as guides--neither on theStockbridge runners nor on the Oneidas, who have come to us more infear of the Long House than out of any particular loyalty or desire toaid us."
"That is true, sir. They had as soon enter hell as Catharines-town."
The Major nodded and continued to open and read the letters which hadarrived during his absence.
"May I draw one of our rifles for my Mohican, sir?" I asked.
"We have very few. Schott's men have not yet all drawn their arms."
"Nevertheless----"
"You think it necessary?"
"I think it best to properly arm the only reliable guide this army hasin its service, Major."
"Very well, Mr. Loskiel.... And see that you keep this fellow in goodhumour. Use your own wit and knowledge; do as you deem best. All I askof you is to keep this wild beast full fed and properly flattered untilwe march."
"Yes, sir," I said gravely, thinking to myself in a sad sort of wonderhow utterly the majority of white men mistook their red brethren of theforest, and how blind they were not to impute to them the same humanitythat they arrogated to themselves.
So much could have been done had men of my blood and colour dealt noblywith a noble people. Yet, even Major Parr, who was no fool and who wasfar more enlightened than many, spoke of a Mohican Sagamore as "thiswild beast," and seriously advised me to keep him "full fed andproperly flattered!"
"Yes, sir," I repeated, saluting, and almost inclined to laugh in hisface.
So I first made requisition for the lang rifle, then reported to mycaptain, although being on special detail under Major Parr's personalorders, this was nothing more than a mere courtesy.
The parade already swarmed with our men mustering for inspection; I metLieutenant Boyd, and we conversed for a while, he lamenting theimpossibility of making a boating party with the ladies, being on dutyuntil three o'clock. And:
"Who is this new guest of Mrs. Bleecker?" he asked curiously. "Iunderstand that you are acquainted with her. What is her name? A Missde Contrecoeur?"
I had not been prepared for that, never expecting that Mrs. Bleeckerhad already started to prepare the way; but I kept my countenance andanswered coolly enough that I had the honour of knowing Miss deContrecoeur.
"She came by batteau from Albany?"
"Her box," said I, "has just arrived from Albany by batteau."
"Is the lady young and handsome?" he asked, smiling.
"Both, Mr. Boyd."
"Well," he said, with a polite oath, "she must be something more, too,if she hopes to rival Lana Helmer."
So it had already come to such terms of intimacy that he now spoke ofher as Lana. For the last few days I had not been to Croghan's house topay my respects, the heat leaving me disinclined to stir from the shadeof the river trees. Evidently it had not debarred Boyd from presentinghimself, or her from receiving him, although a note brought to me fromMrs. Bleecker by her black wench said that both she and AngelinaLansing were ill with the heat and kept their rooms.
"We are bidden to cake and wine at five," said I. "Are you going?"
He said he would be present, and so I left him buckling on his belt,and the conch-horn's blast echoing over the parade, sounding theassembly.
At the gate I encountered Lana and Mrs. Lansing and our preciousEnsign, come to view the inspection, and exchanged a gay greeting withthem.
Then, mending my pace, I hastened to Croghan's house, and found Mrs.Bleecker pacing the foot-path and nibbling fennel.
"How agreeably cool it is growing," she said as I bent over herfingers. "I truly believe we are to have an endurable day at last." Shesmiled at me as I straightened up, and continued to regard me veryintently, still slightly smiling.
"What has disturbed your usual equanimity, Euan? You seem as flushedand impatient as--as a lover at a tryst, for example."
At that I coloured so hotly that she laughed and took my arm, saying:
"There is no sport in plaguing so honest a heart as yours, dear lad.Come; shall we walk over to call upon your fairy princess? Or had yourather bring her here to me?"
"She also leaves it to your pleasure," I said; "Naturally," said Mrs.Bleecker, with a touch of hauteur; then, softening, smiled as much atherself as at me, I think.
"Come," she said gaily. "Sans ceremonie, n'est-ce pas?"
And we sauntered down the road.
"Her box arrived last evening," said I. "God send that Mr. Hake haschosen to please her."
"Is he married?"
"No."
"Lord!" said she gravely. "Then it is well enough that you pray....Perhaps, however," and she gave me a mischievous look, "you haveentrusted such commissions to Mr. Hake before."
"I never have!" I said earnestly, then was obliged to join in herdelighted laughter.
"I knew you had not, Euan. But had I asked that question of yourfriend, Mr. Boyd, and had he answered me as you did, I might havethought he lied."
I said nothing.
"He is at our house every day, and every moment when he is not onduty," she remarked.
"What gallant man would not do the like, if privileged?" I said lightly.
"Lana talks with him too much. Angelina and I have kept our rooms, as Iwrote you, truly dreading a stroke of the sun. But Lana! Lord! She wasup and out and about with her lieutenant; and he had an Oneida to takethem both boating--and then he had the canoe only, and paddled ithimself.... They were gone too long to suit me," she added curtly.
"When?"
&nbs
p; "Every night. I wish I knew where they go in their canoe. But I can donothing with Lana.... You, perhaps, might say a friendly word to Mr.Boyd--if you are on that footing with him--to consider Lana'sreputation a little more, and his own amusement a little less."
I said slowly: "Whatever footing I am on with him, I will say that tohim, if you wish."
"I don't wish you to provoke him."
"I shall take pains not to."
She said impatiently: "There are far too many army duels now. Itsickens me to hear of them. Besides, Lana did ever raise the devilbeyond bounds with any man she could ensnare--and no harm done."
"No harm," I said. "Walter Butler had a hurt of her bright eyes, andsulked for months. And many another, Mrs. Bleecker. But somehow, Mr.Boyd--"
She nodded: "Yes--he's too much like her--but, being a man, scarcely asinnocent of intention, I've said as much to her, and left herpouting--the silly little jade."
We said nothing more, having come in sight of the low house of logswhere Lois dwelt.
"The poor child," said Mrs. Bleecker softly. "Lord! What a kennel for ahuman being!"
As we approached we saw Mrs. Rannock crossing the clearing in thedistance, laden with wash from the fort; and I briefly acquainted myhandsome companion with her tragic history. Then, coming to the door, Iknocked. A lovely figure opened for us.
So astonished was I--it having somehow gone from my mind that Loiscould be so changed, that for a moment I failed to recognise her inthis flushed and radiant young creature advancing in willowy beautyfrom the threshold.
As she sank very low in her pretty reverence, I saw her curly hair alldusted with French powder, under the chip hat with its lilac ribbonstied beneath her chin--and the beauty-patch on her cheek I saw, and howsnowy her hands were, where her fingers held her flowered gown spread.
Then, recovering, she rose gracefully from her reverence, and I saw herclear grey eyes star-brilliant as I had never seen them, and abreathless little smile edging her lips.
On Mrs. Bleecker the effect she produced was odd, for that proud andhandsome young matron had flushed brightly at first, lips compressedand almost stern; and her courtesy had been none too supple either.
Then in a stupid way I went forward to make my compliments and bend lowover the little hand; and as I recovered myself I found her eyes on mefor the first time--and for a brief second they lingered, soft andwonderful, sweet, tender, wistful. But the next moment they were clearand brilliant again with controlled excitement, as Mrs. Bleeckerstepped forward, putting out both hands impulsively. Afterward she saidto me:
"It was her eyes, and the look she gave you, Euan, that convinced me."
But now, to Lois, she said very sweetly:
"I am certain that we are to become friends if you wish it as much as Ido."
Lois laid her hands in hers.
"I do wish it," she said.
"Then the happy accomplishment is easy," said Mrs. Bleecker, smiling."I had expected to yield to you very readily my interest and sympathy,but I had scarce expected to yield my heart to you at our firstmeeting."
Lois stood mute, the smile still stamped on her lips. Suddenly thetears sprang to her eyes, and she turned away hastily; and Mrs.Bleecker's arm went 'round her waist.
They walked into the house together, and I, still dazed and mazed withthe enchanted revelation of her new loveliness, wandered about amongthe charred stumps, my thoughts a heavenly chaos, as though a millionangels were singing in my ears. I could even have seen them, save for awondrous rosy mist that rolled around them.
How long I wandered I do not know, but presently the door opened, andLois beckoned me, and I went in to find Mrs. Bleecker down on her kneeson the puncheon floor, among the mass of pretty finery overflowing fromthe box.
"Did Mr. Hake's selection please you?" I asked, "Oh, Euan, how can Imake you understand! Everything is too beautiful to be real, and I amcertain that a dreadful Cinderella awakening is in store for me."
"Yes--but she wore the slipper in the end."
Lois gave me a shy, sweet look, then, suddenly animated, turned eagerlyonce more to discuss her wardrobe with her new friend.
"Your Mr. Hake has excellent taste, Euan," observed Mrs. Bleecker."Or," she added laughingly, "perhaps your late prayer helped." And toLois she said mischievously: "You know, my dear, that Mr. Loskiel wasaccustomed to petition God very earnestly that your wardrobe shouldplease you."
Lois looked at me, the smile curving her lips into a happy tenderness.
"He is so wonderful," she said, with no embarrassment. And I saw Mrs.Bleecker look up at her, then smilingly at me, with the slightestpossible nod of approbation.
For two hours and more that pair of women remained happy among theribbons and laces; and every separate article Lois brought to menaively, for me to share her pleasure. And once or twice I saw Mrs.Bleecker watching us intently; and when discovered she only laughed,but with such sweetness and good will that it left me happy andreassured.
"We have arranged that Miss de Contrecoeur is to share my room with meat Croghan's," said Mrs. Bleecker. "And, Euan, I think you should senda wagon for her box at once. The distance is short; we will stroll hometogether."
I took my leave of them, contented, and walked back to the fort alone,my heart full of thankfulness for what God had done for her that day.