Then Mrs. Huzzard, without waiting for them to reach the door, hurried out to greet Lyster.
“I’m as glad as any woman can be to see you back again,” she said heartily, “though it’s more than I hoped for so soon, and—Yes, the doctor says she’s a little better, thank God! And your name has been on her lips more than once—poor dear!—since she has been 191 flighty, and all the thanks I feel to you for bringing Lavina right along I can never tell you; for it seems a month since I saw a woman last. I just can’t count the squaw! And do you want to come in and look at our poor little girl now? She won’t know you; but if you wish—”
“May I?” asked Lyster, gratefully. Then he turned to the stranger.
“Your daughter back home is about the same age,” he remarked. “Will you come in?”
“Oh, certainly,” answered Mr. Haydon, rather willing to go anywhere away from the very annoying old redskin of the pipe and the very—very scrutinizing eyes.
The doctor and Overton had passed into the room where Harris was, and Mrs. Huzzard halted at the door with her cousin, so that the two men approached the bed alone. The dark form of Akkomi had slipped in after them like a shadow, but a very alert one, for his head was craned forward that his eyes might lose never an expression of the fine stranger’s face.
’Tana’s eyes were closed, but her lips moved voicelessly. The light was dim in the little room, and Lyster bent over to look at her, and touched her hot forehead tenderly.
“Poor little girl! poor ’Tana!” he said, and turned the covering from about her chin where she had pulled it. He had seen her last so saucy, so defiant of all his wishes, and the change to this utter helplessness brought the quick tears to his eyes. He clasped her hand softly and turned away.
“It is too dark in here to see anything very clearly,” said the stranger, who bent toward her slightly, with his hat in his hand. 192
Then Akkomi, who had intercepted the light somewhat, moved from the foot of the bed to the stranger’s side, and a little sunshine rifted through the small doorway and outlined more clearly the girl’s face on the pillow.