But she shook her head, and he continued, "I'll take the first boat down to the Mission and marry your ma, if you want me to." "That wouldn't do any good," said she.

"We'd better leave things as they are." Then she drew away and smiled at him bravely from the door.
"I'm a very bad to act this way.

S'cuses ?" He nodded and she went out, but he gazed after her for a long minute, then sighed.
"Poor little girl!" Necia was in a restless mood, and, remembering that Alluna and the children had gone berrying on the slopes behind the Indian village, she turned her way thither.

All at once a fear of seeing Meade Burrell came upon her.

She wanted to think this out, to find where she stood, before he had word with her.