“Mollie,” explained Miss Sallie, as the child approached, “Mrs. Latham is much interested in our little Indian girl. Her son, Reginald, has told her of the accident to Eunice. Mrs. Latham is anxious to know to what hospital in Pittsfield Naki has taken the child. I did not ask Ruth. Can you tell us the name?”
Mollie looked at Mrs. Latham steadily. The older woman dropped her eyes. “Eunice is not yet allowed to see visitors,” she answered.
“Oh, I have no wish to call on the child,” Mrs. Latham protested, “but if the Indian girl and her old grandmother are in want I shall send a man to look after them. My brother is most generous to the poor, Miss Stuart.”
But Mollie went on. “Thank you, Mrs. Latham, but Eunice and her grandmother are not poor. Ruth is looking after them now. The grandmother wishes to take Eunice back to their wigwam on the hill, when the little girl is well enough to be moved.”
Mrs. Latham frowned. She had her own reasons for wishing to discover the address of the Indian woman and her child. Yet she did not want to appear to be much interested.
Barbara came up to join Mollie.
“Your sister seems determined that no one shall take interest in your little Indian protégée except her own friends,” declared Mrs. Latham, smiling at Bab. “Perhaps you would not object to telling me where the child is located.”
“Why certainly not!” Barbara exclaimed frankly, looking in surprise at Mollie.
But Mollie interrupted her. The little girl’s cheeks were burning hot. She was conscious of her own bad manners, and of Miss Stuart’s look of disappointment. Yet she spoke before Bab could continue.
“I am sorry for Mrs. Latham to think I am rude in not telling her where Eunice is staying; but it seems to me that, if her old Indian grandmother has kept Eunice hidden all these years, she must have had some good reason. It does not seem fair to me for us to talk about her just because, through an accident, we had to send her to town. I think, if the grandmother wishes to keep Eunice hidden, we ought at least to ask the old woman’s permission before we tell anyone where she is staying. I am awfully sorry,” Mollie ended, apologetically, “but I do feel that I am right.”