The color had faded from her startled face, but now it came back again in a swift flood.
"That I love him?"
"Yes. Not as a sister any longer, Mélisse, but as a WOMAN!"
CHAPTER XXII
HER PROMISE
Gravois did not stay to see the effect of his last words. Only he knew, as he went through the door, that her eyes were following him, and that if he looked at her she would call him back. So he shut the door quickly behind him, fearing that he had already said too much.
Cummins and Jan came in together at suppertime. The factor was in high humor. An Indian from the Porcupine had brought in two silver fox that morning, and he was immensely pleased at Jan's return—a combination of incidents which put him in the best of moods.
Mélisse sat opposite Jan at the table. She had twisted a sprig of red bakneesh into her glossy braid, and a cluster of it nestled at her throat, but Jan gave no sign that he had noticed this little favor, which was meant entirely for him. He smiled at her, but there was a clear coolness in the depths of his dark eyes which checked any of the old familiarity on her part.
"Has MacVeigh put in his new trap-line?" Cummins inquired, after asking
Jan many questions about his trip.
"I don't know," replied Jan. "I didn't go to MacVeighs'."