“I think it is an excellent proposal, Malachi, and am much pleased with it, as we now shall have you all together,” said Mrs Campbell.
“Yes, ma’am, so you will, and then I’ll be always with the boy to look after him, and you’ll always know where we are, and not be frightened.”
“Very true, Malachi,” said Mr Campbell; “I consider it a very good arrangement. We must build you a better lodge than the one that you are in.”
“No, sir, not a better one, for if you have all you want, you can’t want more; it’s big enough, but perhaps not quite near enough. I’m thinking that when the sheep-fold is finished, it might be as well to raise our lodge inside of the palisades, and then we shall be a sort of guard to the creatures.”
“A very excellent idea, Malachi. Well, then, as far as I am concerned, Martin has my full consent to marry as soon as he pleases.”
“And mine, if it is at all necessary,” observed Mrs Campbell.
“But who is to marry them?” said Emma; “they have no chaplain at the fort; he went away ill last year.”
“Why, miss, they don’t want no chaplain; she is an Injun girl, and he will marry her Injun fashion.”
“But what fashion is that, Malachi?” said Mary.
“Why, miss, he’ll come to the lodge, and fetch her away to his own house.”