"I thought you were going to wait for me to speak," she replied.
He caught his breath a little. "So I will—only you won't forget my gray hairs, will you?"
"I don't think I will—not with your broad daily hints to remind me. But you promised to be patient and—just friendly."
He ignored her sarcasm. "It would be rather curious if I should become increasingly impatient, wouldn't it? I made that promise in entire good faith, but—I seem to be changing."
"That's what troubles me," she said. "You are trying to hurry me."
At this moment they came close to the Parkers and she did not continue. He had given her another disturbing thought to sleep on, and that was, "Would it hurt him much if I should now return his ring?"
Mrs. Parker was disposed to discuss the dance, but Jennie said:
"We must all go to sleep. George says we are to move early to-morrow."
The walls of the tent could hardly be seen when the sound of the crackling flames again told that faithful Two Horns was feeding the camp-fire. Crane's Voice could be heard bringing in the horses, and in a few moments Curtis called out in a low, incisive voice: