“But I cannot stay here,” I said.
“You will not go and leave us now that we have come so far. We shall want your help.”
“But—”
“Come, Mayne, you will not object to suffering a little, I hope, for our sake. I dare say my brother will keep on in his stern, hard way, for a time; but when he is fully convinced, you will be glad that you bore with him.”
“I shall do exactly as you wish me to,” I said quietly; and I again looked wonderingly at her, she was so changed.
“We shall not lead you wrong, Mayne,” she said, smiling; and, at her wish, I walked back with her to Mr Raydon’s place, where Mr John rose to make room for us, but Mr Raydon hardly glanced at me, and his manner was so strained during the next hour, as I sat listening to the conversation about the adventures during the long journey across the plain, that I was very glad to make an excuse so as to get away to where Mrs Dean was seated in the strangers’ quarters relating her story to Esau.
“Ah,” she cried, as I entered; “and what do you think of Mrs John?”
“I hardly knew her,” I said. “She is indeed better.”
“Yes,” said Mrs Dean, drawing herself up proudly, “I think I did my duty there.”
“I am sure you did.”