“I had my hand up—so,” explained McKinstry, with heavy deliberation, “and the ball raked off my little finger after it went through my hat. But that ain't what I wanted to say when I stopped ye. I ain't just kam enough yet,” he apologized in the calmest manner, “and I clean forgit myself,” he added with perfect self-possession. “But I was kalkilatin' to ask you”—he laid his bandaged hand familiarly on the master's shoulder—“if Cressy kem all right?”
“Perfectly,” said the master. “But shan't I walk on home with you, and we can talk together after your wound is attended to?”
“And she looked purty?” continued McKinstry without moving.
“Very.”
“And you thought them new store gownds of hers right peart?”
“Yes,” said the master. “Perhaps a little too fine for the school, you know,” he added insinuatingly, “and”—
“Not for her—not for her,” interrupted McKinstry. “I reckon thar's more whar that cam from! Ye needn't fear but that she kin keep up that gait ez long ez Hiram McKinstry hez the runnin' of her.”
Mr. Ford gazed hopelessly at the hideous ranch in the distance, at the sky, and the trail before him; then his glance fell upon the hand still upon his shoulder, and he struggled with a final effort. “At another time I'd like to have a long talk with you about your daughter, Mr. McKinstry.”
“Talk on,” said McKinstry, putting his wounded hand through the master's arm. “I admire to hear you. You're that kam, it does me good.”
Nevertheless the master was conscious that his own arm was scarcely as firm as his companion's. It was however useless to draw back now, and with as much tact as he could command he relieved his mind of its purpose. Addressing the obtruding bandage before him, he dwelt upon Cressy's previous attitude in the school, the danger of any relapse, the necessity of her having a more clearly defined position as a scholar, and even the advisability of her being transferred to a more advanced school with a more mature teacher of her own sex. “This is what I wished to say to Mrs. McKinstry to-day,” he concluded, “but she referred me to you.”