Nevertheless the Indian saw her slight movement.
“You are cold; you must be careful in the desert, as often the night turns suddenly cool after a scorching day. May I take you to your friends?”
Bettina was accustomed to having her own way. She was enjoying the talk with her unusual acquaintance far more than anything that had taken place since their journey began. Therefore it did not occur to her to consider that her absence might create uneasiness.
“Are you going to do anything else? If you are not I wonder if you would mind our finding a place somewhere and talking?” she suggested. “I know it is asking a great deal of you, but there are so many things I wish to know about the West.”
Bettina was like an eager child. But, then, ordinary conventionalities never troubled her, unless they were forced upon her consideration.
And what could the young man do except assent.
He found Bettina a camp chair at the rear end of the adjoining car and himself a small one beside it.
But the chairs were not outside; they stood in an enclosed space just inside the train and beside a great window.
When her companion sat down beside her, one could not get a full view of Bettina.
However, Peggy did not pass her by, for she did not go into this car to search. But the colored porter did. Yet he had been told to discover a young woman who was alone, dressed in a blue suit and wearing a blue hat.