"Don't understand God's business," replied Atkins briefly.
"I puts it this way," Brick spoke up; "God's done sent one little girl, and it ain't right to crowd Him too far."
"Will I be all they is of me, as long as I live?"
"Nobody won't never come to live in these plains," Brick declared, "unless its trappers and characters like us. But we'll stay by you, won't we, Bill Atkins?"
Atkins looked exceedingly gruff and shook his head as if he had his doubts about it. "You'll have to be taken to the States," he declared.
"But what would become of Brick?"
"Well, honey," said Brick, "you want to take your place with people in the big world, don't you?"
"Oh, YES!" cried Lahoma, starting up and stretching her arm toward the window. "In the big world—yes! That's the place for me—that's where I want to live. But what will become of you?"
"Well," Brick answered slowly, "the rock pile, t'other side the mountain is good enough for me. Your mother sleeps under it."
"Oh, Brick!" She caught his arm. "You wouldn't die if I went away, would you?"