I looked at him, and saw that his face was lighted up, and that he was in thorough earnest.
“But we’ll talk about that another time, Gil,” he said.
I stared at this familiar usage of my name, and he smiled.
“Yes, Gil,” he said; “my friend Gil, who will be my counsellor, and help me to rule over my people with strength and justice.”
“But—”
“No, no,” he said; “don’t speak yet. You are going to decide hastily, and a great judge is slow, and thinks much before he speaks. We were talking about your dress. I did think of taking you back with me to my city.”
“No, no,” I cried excitedly, and completely thrown off my guard; “not yet.”
I felt that I had made a mistake, for I saw his eyes flash, and a curious watchful look in his face.
“Very well,” he said; “there is no need for haste. You find that you are steadily growing strong up here?”
“Yes; fast,” I replied. “It is cooler than it would be in a town.”