But if you are engaged, or have no time now, I do not mind returning again." There was a decided irony in the manner in which the old man uttered these words, and Hoskanyi felt it.

He rose quickly, gathered a few robes, and spread them on the ground.

In short he was as pleasant and accommodating, all at once, as he and his wife had been careless in the beginning.

Topanashka settled down on the hides, and in the meantime the woman also entered the room and quite unceremoniously squatted beside the men.

Hoshkanyi said to her,-- "We have to talk together, the maseua and I." He fastened on his spouse a look timid and imploring; it was plain that he did not venture to send her out directly,--that he was afraid of her.