Mercy's words poured out without breathing-space or stop, and the Sun Maid laughed as she replied:
"Why, that's only Osceolo. Do you know him?"
"Kitty Briscoe! All the wild horses in Illinois can't make me believe no different but 'twas him set our barn afire!"
"When? He's not been away--for some days."
But when the young Indian did turn around, and saw the pair watching him, he coolly walked toward them, regarding Mercy as if she were an utter stranger, and one whom he was rather pleased to meet.
"Friend of yours, Sun Maid? Glad to see her."
"Glad to see me, be you? Wait till Abel Smith comes an' identifies you. Then see which side the laugh's on, you--you----"
Foreseeing difficulties, the girl guided her guest into the kitchen, where Wahneenah was preparing dinner, and where the Indian woman greeted her old acquaintance with no surprise and, certainly, without any of the effusiveness that, for once, rather marked Mercy's manner toward her former "hired girl."
"Well, it's a real likely house, now, ain't it? I'd admire to see the minister. It's years since I saw one. Is he about?"
"Yes. He is studying. I rather hate to disturb him; but at dinner you will meet him."
"Studying! Studying what? Why, I thought he was an old man."
"He is. So old, I sometimes fear we will not have him with us long."
"What's the use learnin' anything more, then?"
"One can never know too much, I fancy. Just at present he is writing a dictionary of the Indian dialects, so far as he has been able to obtain them."
"The--Indian--language! He wouldn't be so silly, now come!"
"He is just so wise. It is a splendid work. I am proud to be his helper, even by just merely copying his papers."
"Well! You could knock me down with a feather! One thing--I sha'n't never set under his preachin'. I wouldn't demean myself. The idee!"
"Mercy, do you remember the red-covered Bible? Have you it still?"
"Course. I wouldn't let anything happen to that. It was a reward of merit. It's wrote in the front: 'To Mercy Balch, for being a Good Girl.' That was me afore I was married. It's in my carpet-bag. I mean to have it buried with me. I wouldn't never spile it by handlin'."
"I hope you'll use it now, for it's so easy to get another. The Doctor will give you one at any time. The Bible Society in the East furnishes all he needs."